- Remedies to take when pain arises
- Remedies to prevent the return of pain
- Main side effects
- Alternative treatment for migraine
Migraine remedies like Sumax, Cefaliv, Cefalium, Aspirin or paracetamol, can be used to stop a crisis moment. These remedies work by blocking pain or reducing the dilation of blood vessels, thus controlling migraine symptoms, but they should only be used under medical advice.
In addition, there are also medications that are used to prevent new migraine attacks, which are generally used in people who have more than 4 attacks in a month, that last more than 12 hours, or who do not respond to any pain reliever medication.
The best doctor to guide the use of these medications is the neurologist after evaluating the symptoms and identifying what type of migraine the person has, but for that, tests such as tomography, for example, can be performed.
Remedies to take when pain arises
Some options for migraine remedies prescribed by the doctor, which can be used to relieve pain and therefore should be taken as soon as the headache begins, are:
- Analgesics or anti-inflammatory drugs, such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen or aspirin, which help to relieve pain in some people; Triptans, such as Zomig, Naramig or Sumax, which cause blood vessels to constrict and block pain; Ergotamine, present in medicines like Cefaliv or Cefalium, for example, which are less effective than triptans; Antiemetics, such as metoclopramide for example, which are used for nausea caused by migraine and are usually combined with other drugs; Opioids, such as codeine, which are generally used in people who cannot take triptan or ergotamine; Corticosteroids, such as prednisone or dexamethasone, which can be used in combination with other medications.
A good remedy for migraine with aura is paracetamol, which should be taken as soon as you notice the visual symptoms like flashing lights before the headache appears, and avoid any kind of stimulation, keeping yourself in a calm, dark and peaceful place. This medication can also be used in case of a migraine attack in pregnancy. Learn to recognize the symptoms of migraine.
Remedies to prevent the return of pain
For people who have 4 or more migraine attacks per month, attacks lasting more than 12 hours, who do not respond to treatment with other migraine medications, or feel weak and dizzy during the attacks, they should speak to the doctor, as it may be preventive treatment is recommended.
The drugs used in the preventive treatment of migraine can reduce the frequency, intensity and duration of attacks and can increase the effectiveness of the drugs used to treat migraine. The most commonly used remedies for preventive treatment are:
- Medicines used in cardiovascular diseases, such as propranolol, timolol, verapamil or lisinopril; Antidepressants, for altering levels of serotonin and other neurotransmitters, with amitriptyline being the most used; Anti-convulsants, which seem to reduce the frequency of migraines, such as valproate or topiramate;
In addition, taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as naproxen, can also help prevent migraines and reduce symptoms.
Main side effects
Migraine remedies are very useful for controlling headache, but they can cause unpleasant symptoms. The most common side effects that can be caused by the most commonly used migraine remedies are:
- Triptans: Nausea, dizziness and muscle weakness; Dihydroergotamine: Nausea and changes in the sensitivity of the fingers and toes. Ibuprofen, Aspirin and Naproxen: Used for long periods of time, they can cause headache, stomach ulcers and other gastrointestinal disorders.
If the person has some of these unpleasant effects, the doctor can evaluate the possibility of changing the dose or indicate another medication that has the same positive effect, but not the negative effect.
Alternative treatment for migraine
Another way to prevent and treat migraine attacks is to use a device called Cefaly headband for 20 minutes a day. This device is a type of tiara that is placed on the head and has an electrode that vibrates, stimulating the trigeminal nerve endings, which is closely related to the appearance of migraine. You can buy the Cefaly headband over the internet, with an approximate price of $ 300.
Watch the following video and see a massage you can do to relieve your headache:
