Medicine for Migraines

Medicine for Migraines: Abortive Medications

Abortive medications treat the root cause of a headache or migraine by constricting swollen blood vessels. This kind of medication can be good for people who experience fewer than four migraines per month. Abortive medications must be taken when the first symptoms of migraines are felt, if you wait too long the medicine will not work.

Caffeine: A simple abortive

Try drinking a cup of strong coffee or a non-diet soda such as Coca Cola when you feel a migraine coming on (be sure not to add artificial sweeteners.) Other options could include chocolate or chocolate covered espresso beans if chocolate is not a trigger for your migraines. Caffeine can also be found in certain over-the-counter pain killers such as Excedrin.

Triptans

The most common category of abortive drugs are those known as triptans: Imitrex (Sumatriptan), Zomig (Zolmitriptan), Naramig (Naratriptan), Maxalt (Rizatriptan), Axert (Almotriptan), Frova (Frovatriptan) and Relpax (Eletriptan.) Triptans are a great alternative to previous medications which were merely very strong pain killers.

What do you need to know about triptans?

Triptans work by forcibly constricting inflamed swollen blood vessels (and as such are not safe for those with uncontrolled high blood pressure, those at risk for heart disease or stroke, and any migraine sufferer who experiences hemiplegic or basilar type migraines, AND anyone taking SSRI antidepressants) by binding to serotonin receptors in the brain.
Triptans are not preventative medications; instead they end a migraine attack once it has started. Triptans must be taken in the early stage of a migraine to be effective.
Triptans are expensive. Your insurance company may limit the number of pills you are allowed per month. Your doctor can over-ride this limitation but you will probably need to fight our insurance company.
Triptans seem to be effective for 80% of migraine sufferers (if your condition is not successfully treated by triptans, this does NOT mean you do not have migraines.) Each type of triptan will bind to a different serotonin receptor in the brain – for this reason if one did not work there is argument to keep trying.
If overused triptans will cause rebound headaches.

Ergotamines

Ergotamines are an older abortive drug. Unlike triptans they can stop a full-blown migraine attack. DHE-45 is the most commonly prescribed ergotamine but it has known side effects such as nausea, confusion, and blood vessel spasms. DHE-45 also conflicts with MANY medications so be extra careful to check for complications and make sure your doctor knows all the medications you are taking.

Inhaled Medical Oxygen

Inhaled Medical Oxygen has shown to be effective for cluster headache sufferers and also migraine sufferers (although to a lesser degree.)

GelStat Migraine (OTC)

GelStat Migraine is an over-the-counter medication made of ginger and feverfew which is meant to be taken in the early stages of a migraine. GelStat will not work for everyone or even every time, but this may be an excellent option to try. http://www.gelstat.com/