Headache - migraine

There is no specific cure for migraine headaches. The goal is to prevent symptoms by avoiding or changing your triggers.

A good way to identify triggers is to keep a headache diary. Write down:

• When your headaches occur
• How severe they are
• What you've eaten
• How much sleep you had
• Other symptoms
• Other possible factors (women should note where they are in their menstrual cycle)

For example, the diary may reveal that your headaches tend to occur more often on days when you wake up earlier than usual. Changing your sleep schedule may result in fewer migraine attacks.

When you do get migraine symptoms, try to treat them right away. The headache may be less severe. When migraine symptoms begin:

• Drink water to avoid dehydration, especially if you have vomited
• Rest in a quiet, darkened room
• Place a cool cloth on your head

Many different medications are available for people with migraines. Medicines are used to:

• Reduce the number of attacks
• Stop the migraine once early symptoms occur
• Treat the pain and other symptoms

REDUCING ATTACKS

If you have frequent migraines, your doctor may prescribe medicine to reduce the number of attacks. Such medicine needs to be taken every day in order to be effective. Such medications may include:

• Antidepressants such as amitriptyline
• Blood pressure medicines such as beta blockers (propanolol) or calcium channel blockers (verapamil)
• Seizure medication such as valproic acid, gabapentin, and topiramate
• Serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as venlafaxine
• Selective norepinephrine uptake inhibitor (SNRIs) such as duloxetine

Images

Central nervous system

CT scan of the brain

Migraine headache

Migraine cause

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Migraine Prevention

Review Date: 11/22/2010
Reviewed By: Kevin Sheth, MD, Department of Neurology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)