Migraine Preventative Medications
The purpose of substantive treatment of migraine is to reduce the
frequency and intensity of attacks. It can be based on non-chemical
treatments or on over the counter or prescription drugs.
A substantive treatment can only be made after medical advice has been
obtained; most drug based preventative medicines have side effects,
opposing-indications or drug interactions.
Three non-drug techniques have shown a relative effectiveness in
treating substance of the migraine disease. The lack of toxicity of
these methods deserves some investigation by anyone who is trying to
prevent attacks.
Acupuncture has proven to be helpful; there is a lot of evidence that it
is effective although nobody knows why. Relaxation and avoiding stress
are big migraine avoiding helpers. There is little disagreement that the
less stress you are under the less frequent and server the attacks
Bio feed back uses mental self control of body functions to lower heart
rate, blood pressure and control breathing. It takes some time to learn
but has proved an effective way of avoiding migraine just as it starts
to occur.
Different categories of drugs can be used although usually only one
substantive drug treatment is used at once, because for the moment there
is no evidence that associations of different drugs have a higher
efficiency.
Whichever drug you take you will need to wait long enough to judge the
effectiveness of treatment of substance. This is a minimum of two to
three months is required, while keeping a calendar of the attacks.
Increase very slowly the amount of the doses to find the minimum
effective dose, and avoid as much as possible the side effects.
The optimal duration of treatment is unclear; it is probably useful
initially to take a drug for four to six months. The rest depends on
developments, some patients prefer to take a few months of treatment for
migraine attacks, and then remain without treatment for a while others
will require continuous treatment.
The “best” drug will be different for each case with treatments varying
from one patient to another. It will depend on the prescribing habits of
the doctor or pathological problems associated with the patient.
The ergot fungus that comes from rye is used for brain of arterial
disorders in people who were exposed (ergotism). Accidental observations
of arterial spasm prompted pharmacologists to extract a purified and
synthesized molecules, now it is used to fight against vascular problems
involved in migraine headaches.
Beta-blockers act on receptors in certain hormones. They have many
vegetative effects, in particular a reduction in heart rate, lower blood
pressure, spastic action on the bronchi, interaction with the mechanisms
for regulating blood sugar etc. They can therefore be prescribed only
after a thorough consideration of your background and a thorough
clinical examination.
The most common side effects currents of this class of product is a
certain fatigue (especially at the beginning of treatment), a decrease
of resistance to the effort caused by lack of adaptation of the
heartbeat.
With the necessary medical precautions (against compliance indications,
drug interactions, analysis of side effects) this therapeutic class is a
major player in treating migraine.
Pizotifen belongs to the family of tricyclic drugs (family of
antidepressants). The usual dose for adults is 1.5 mg per day; the
optimal dosage is achieved gradually. This is against drug used in cases
of glaucoma. It should not be used with alcohol or other drugs. Its main
side effects are drowsiness, weight gain by increasing appetite and
sometimes nausea or dizziness. It can not be used during pregnancy and
lactation.
Other drugs have shown some effectiveness in treating migraine
substantive, without having provided permission marketing in this
indication: nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, sodium valproate,
aspirin, verapamil, clonidine. Many products are being developed all the
time. |
