Migraine Treatment

Over the past 10 years, the use of triptans has made important advances in the treatment of migraines. As each patient experiences a different frequency and severity, it is important to choose the most appropriate treatment that meets the patient’s need. 
 

1. When to see a doctor immediately for your migraine

You should see your doctor immediately if you have noticed a change in your pain or its pattern, even though you have experienced headache before. If you have following symptoms, you should immediately go to the emergency room, because it can be a warning sign of a more serious health problem.    

·         Headache that is thunder like with sudden and severe pains

·         Headache that is accompanied by fever, stiff neck, rash, abnormal status of consciousness, seizures, double vision, muscle weakness, numbness, or impaired speech articulation

·         Headache following a severe head injury

·         Headache after coughing, exercise, or sudden movements

·         Headache that begins after the age of 50

2. How to treat migraines

There are different medications to treat migraines. Some medications can not only treat migraine but also prevent them. There are two categories of medications to treat migraines.   

·         Pain-relieving treatment
Acute medications are taken during migraine attacks or when the symptoms have just begun.

·         Preventive treatment

The medications are taken regularly to reduce the frequency or severity of migraines.

When selecting a treatment, consider the frequency and severity of the migraines, the assessment of disability due to the migraines, and your other medical conditions. Since some drugs have to be used with caution, if you are pregnant or are breastfeeding, talk to your doctor for help on what medications to take.

3. How to use migraine medications appropriately

Answer the following questions to see if you are taking the right medications for your migraines:

·         Does the migraine attack stop in 2-4 hours?

·         Can you resume your daily activities in 3-4 hours?

·         Are the medications effective at least 50% of the time after taking them?

·         Is it easy to take the medications and not interfering your daily activities?

If you answered “No” to more than one of the questions above, you should reconsider your treatment. You can choose right treatment for your migraine after trying your medications 2-3 times and monitoring your condition. If you see the same level of improvement after two migraine attacks, it is likely to have 70% of possibilities to obtain similar results in a third migraine attack.     

To avoid any failure of the treatment, taking your medications at the right time is key. You should take the medications as soon as possible once the headache begins. The more you delay in taking your medication, the more likely your treatment may fail. You have a high possibility of success of your treatment when you take the medications within the “Windows of Opportunity”, or two hours following the beginning of the headache. 20151106

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