During the past decade new drugs have come on the market to treat migraines. Could they work for you?
If you suffer from migraines you know the feeling. A pulsating, throbbing pain in your head that gets worse every time you move. You may feel nauseated and become extremely sensitive to light and sound. The pain incapacitates your for hours, even days.
Researchers are still trying to figure out exactly what causes migraines. But they do know that women are three times more likely than men to experience these painful headaches.
So far, no one has found a cure. But during the past ten years, new drugs have come on the market that help ease the pain and reduce the frequency of migraines.
You might be a candidate for preventive medications if you meet the following criteria:
- You have two or more debilitating attacks a month
- You take pain-relieving medication at least twice a week
- The pain killers aren’t helping
- You experience numbness and impaired movement on one side of your body
These medications don’t eliminate your headache entirely and some have serious side effects. Talk to your doctor about which one is best for you:
- Cardiovascular Drugs Beta Blockers, frequently used to treat high blood pressure, also help reduce the frequency and intensity of migraines. They may prevent headaches by improving blood flow.
- Antidepressants Some antidepressants work to prevent all types of headaches including migraines.
- Anti-seizure drugs It’s not clear why, but certain anti-seizure drugs used to treat epilepsy and bipolar disease also help prevent migraines.
- Cyproheptadine This antihistamine affects serotonin activity in the brain.
- Botulism toxin type A (botox) Some people who use botox to combat wrinkles notice a decrease in headaches. The reason is unclear. Studies using botox injections for migraines have mixed results.
Lifestyle changes may also reduce the frequency of your headaches:
- Avoid triggers Avoid foods or certain scents that you know have triggered migraines in the past.
- Exercise often As long as it’s ok with your doctor, go for it. Any type of aerobic activity will reduce stress and may help prevent an attack.
- Reduce the effects of estrogen If you know that estrogen triggers your headaches or makes them worse, you may want to avoid or reduce the medications that contain estrogen. Those include birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy. Talk to your doctor about your options.
- Try muscle relaxation exercises Or spend at least a half an hour a day doing something you find relaxing.
The right medication along with lifestyle changes may not make your migraines go away, but they could help you live a more pain free life.
Sources: National Headache Founation, American Headache Society, Mayo Clinic
