Preventing Migraine Headaches
Preventing Migraine Headaches
What you need to know about
Preventing Migraine Headaches
When you’ve experienced the excruciating pain of a migraine, you want to do everything you can to avoid getting one again.
If you experience these headaches frequently or have severe ones, avoid the things that you know trigger them, such as certain meals, fragrances, and alcohol.
You could also be able to avoid migraines by using the following strategies:
- Preventive drugs or devices should be used.
- Make lifestyle adjustments.
Preventive Migraine Medications
These medications can:
- Assist you in having fewer migraines.
- Reduce the severity of your headaches.
- Reduce their length.
If you suffer from migraines frequently, this treatment may be beneficial.
If you have any of the following symptoms, you should consider taking preventative medications:
- The migraine medications you’re taking aren’t working or are causing you problems.
- You get at least four migraines per month.
The following medications are used to prevent migraines:
- Anti-seizure drugs. These medications may act by relaxing brain nerve cells.Among them are:Gabapentin, Topiramate, Valproic acid
- Beta-blockers. Typically, high blood pressure and heart disease are treated. It’s unclear how they aid with migraine prevention. Some of the remedies for headaches include:Atenolol, Metoprolol, Nadolol, Propranolol and Timolol
- Antidepressants. These drugs lower the level of serotonin in the brain, which has been associated with migraines. Some of them, including amitriptyline and venlafaxine, can help you avoid headaches. Other types may also work.
- CGRP Inhibitors. The chemical CGRP (calcitonin gene-related peptide) is linked to migraine pain. CGRP inhibitors are a type of medication that works by blocking the effects of CGRP. They’ve been approved specifically to prevent migraine attacks. Once a month, you inject yourself with a pen-like device. People who took the drug experienced one to two fewer migraine days per month than those who took the placebo in clinical studies. The most common adverse effects are mild discomfort and redness at the injection site. These are the drugs:Atogepant, Eptinezumab, Erenumab, Fremanezumab, Galcanezumab.Orally, atogepant can be taken. Every three months, Eptinezumab is given as an IV infusion. Fremanezumab can be taken once a month or every three months.
- Triptans for menstrual-related migraines. These medications cure migraines that have already occurred, but one of them, frovatriptan, may help women avoid migraines caused by their menstrual cycle. Serotonin levels are affected by the medication, which may also reduce pain in other ways.
- Botulinum toxin (Botox). It is commonly used to cure wrinkles, but it also helps some people with chronic migraines, which occur at least 15 days each month. It’s for people who experience chronic migraine headaches that last four hours or longer at a time. Botox may prevent the brain from emitting chemicals that the body uses to communicate pain signals, according to doctors.Keep these suggestions in mind when taking migraine medication: Your doctor will most likely begin with a low dose and gradually raise it. Finding the appropriate dose with the fewest adverse effects may take several months.
Stop taking your preventive drugs gradually. This could result in a headache rebound. If you need to discontinue taking them, do so gradually and under the supervision of your doctor.
These medications are unlikely to fully eliminate your headaches. When you do get one, you may still need to take drugs.
If you are unable or unwilling to take medication, a gadget may be worth considering. Cefaly is a portable device that sends electrical impulses to the skin on the forehead. This activates a nerve that causes migraine headaches. Cefaly is applied once a day for 20 minutes, and you may experience a tingling or massaging sensation while wearing it.
Lifestyle Changes
Your daily activities can go a long way toward reducing the frequency and severity of migraines. Some things that might be useful are:
- Sleep. Every day, including weekends and holidays, go to bed and wake up at around the same time. A headache might be caused by sleeping at strange times or getting too much or too little sleep.
- Exercise regularly. You may be tempted to avoid physical activity for fear of triggering a migraine. For some people, overdoing a workout can cause a headache, but evidence shows that regular, moderate aerobic activity can help reduce the length of time you have migraines, be less painful, and occur less frequently. It also aids in the management of another trigger, stress.
- Eat regular meals. A migraine might be triggered by a dip in blood sugar, so don’t miss meals. Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration, which can make headaches worse.
- Limit stress.A common migraine trigger is tension. So, set aside sometime each day to unwind. You might:Relax by listening to soothing music. Take a quick stroll. Meditate. Do yoga.
- Try complementary techniques.You might wish to try one of these to help avoid migraines in addition to your recommended treatment:Massage, Talk therapy, Acupuncture