Besides avoiding triggers and leading a healthy lifestyle, there are medical treatments available to reduce or eliminate headaches.
If migraines are relatively infrequent, they can be treated with medications only when they occur. Over-the-counter analgesics such as Tylenol, Ibuprofen, Naproxen, Advil, and Excedrin can be effective. If these are not effective, there are prescription drugs developed specifically for the treatment of migraines.
These include:
Triptans:
- Sumatriptan
- Brand names: Imitrex, Alsuma, Zembrace, Onzetra, Tosymra
- Zolmitriptan
- Brand names: Zomig, Zomig-ZMT
Gepants:
- Ubrogepant
- Brand name: Ubrelvy
- Rimegepant
- Brand name: Nurtec ODT
- Atogepant
- Brand name: Qulipta
Lasmiditan:
- Brand name: Reyvow
It is usually difficult to predict which medication will be most effective for a given patient. The selection of treatments by physicians is typically determined by their experience, taking into consideration the patient’s medical history and insurance coverage.
Comments
mike25
Answer:
People respond to medications differently. No single medication can get rid of all the migraines. This is the reason there are many medications available to treat migraines. It is advisable to try over the counter analgesics first. They usually can reduce or get rid of migraines. They are less expensive and may have fewer side effects than prescription drugs. They are available without having to see a doctor first to obtain a prescription. If they do not work, it is time to see a doctor to discuss treatment options. The doctor may need to consider your health conditions and the medications that you are taking before recommending a medication to treat your migraines. Your health insurance plan may also have certain guidelines for medication coverage which may dictate what medications you can take.
Answer:
According to the latest research, migraines are caused by neural network malfunction. Normally, the neural network in the head region sends the correct sensory inputs(vision, sound, smell, touch, etc.) to the cerebral cortex where conscious perceptions take place. During migraines, the neural network sends the sensory inputs through wrong pathways or there are abnormal changes in the neurotransmitters(the molecules that neurons use to communicate with each other). Depending on the changes in the pathways and neurotransmitters, the cortex may perceive the sensory inputs as an entirely different sensation. The result is that a normally harmless sensory stimulation becomes painful, uncomfortable and offensive. This is the physiological basis for migraines. Scientists are trying to understand why the neural network malfunctions in migraine sufferers. There is a strong genetic component. Health conditions and certain medications may be contributing factors as well. Migraine treatments are supposed to correct these abnormal changes in the neural network.