There are many migraine headache treatments. Prescription drugs are available from medical practitioners. Over-the-counter treatments are commonly available in drug stores. Alternative and holistic remedies can also be effective. Sometimes it is a matter of finding the root cause of a headache and dealing with it. Very often diet, and activities result in headaches.
Prescription drugs can only be obtained from a medical practitioner. Therefore, a visit to a General Practitioner will be required to obtain these. The reception and service can be startlingly different between doctors; so it is advisable to look for one that is empathetic to your needs and not merely one who hands out prescriptions without full consultations. The patient's medical history will enable a doctor to offer a number of possible drugs. Since most people have exhausted other alternatives before resorting to a physician, it is likely that the cause of headaches seen by doctors is complex or severe. This means that stronger drugs may have to be used. To begin with it is usually a matter of trial and error before the most suitable drug can be found. Also, the tolerance will increase of some patients for particular drugs. Such people may find that their migraines return with more severity or that they never really disappear altogether. The patient should be prepared to alternate medications and vary doses depending on the severity of his or her problem. Also, if the patient explores his own options, he should inform the physician to avoid mixing medications that could react in a negative way.
There are many over-the-counter medications that can be effective in treating headaches. Often these will have minor side-effects, but can be hazardous when taken in large doses. Below we list a few of the more common medications:
- Aspirin has been around for a long time. At one time it was described simply as tree-bark as it comes from the bark of the white willow tree1. It is quite effective at relieving headache symptoms. It helps to open the blood vessels to the brain. This should not be given to children under 20 as it can cause Reyes syndrome. Other side-effects: it can be hard on the stomach, possibly causing ulcers when taken excessively.
- Tylenol is also known as acetaminophen. This is a very effective pain reliever, with very few side-effects. However, taken to excess, it can change blood counts and cause liver damage.
- There is a whole list of pain relievers ending with the suffix "-profen", these include, ibuprofen (Advil), fenoprofen, flurbiprofen, and ketaprofen. They all come from the same class of pain reliever. They are all effective against temporary headaches (especially tension headaches and migraines) and other pains. They all have similar side-effects including, gastrointestinal upset and bleeding, nausea, vomiting, rash, and liver damage.
- Aleve (also called naproxin) is also an effective pain reliever for both tension and migraine headaches. The side effects are similar to those of the "-profens".
- Relafen is the commercial name for nabumetone. This drug can prevent or stop headaches, but like any other drug has side-effects: constipation, heartburn, diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting.
- There are many more headache medicines available.2
Some people prefer to have full control over their health or prefer natural alternative therapies. Natural therapies include aromatherapy, where essential oils are bought from health shops or home-made. One of the most popular choices for aromatherapy is lavender oil. The use of lavender in helping relive headaches dates back hundreds of years. Acupuncture another alternative therapy for treating migraines. It is advisable to seek a properly trained acupuncturist, there are many who offer their services that have had no or very little training.
Probably the most effective, long-term way of solving headache problems is to get to the root cause of headaches. If this is tension, find ways to deal with tension. Seek out therapy. Change lifestyle. Inadequate sleep can cause headaches. Improper vision correction can also cause headaches, simply seeing an optomologist and getting a new prescription for glasses can prevent headaches. Probably one of the most frequent causes of headaches is bad diet. The editor of this site found that increasing hydration during the day coupled with a calcium pill every morning cleared away a daily headache that occurred in the evening.
When solving headache problems in this manner, it pays to experiment. Keep a chart or calendar of what you eat and what exercise you get during the day. Note when you have a headache and when you do not. Experiment with your diet. You may find that a daily stroll on a treadmill3 and cutting out sugar at breakfast might solve your problems.
- 1. AllergyCapital.com
- 2. A good table list of headache medicines available over the counter.
- 3. Treadmill Health
