MIGRAINE~~ had it few days... hate it!

A migraine is a very painful type of headache. People who get migraines often describe the pain as pulsing or throbbing in one area of the head. During migraines, people are very sensitive to light and sound. They may also become nauseated and vomit. Migraine is three times more common in women than in men. Some people can tell when they are about to have a migraine because they see flashing lights or zigzag lines or they temporarily lose their vision. Many things can trigger a migraine. These include;
- Anxiety
- Stress
- Lack of food or sleep
- Exposure to light
- Hormonal changes (in women)

(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)



The symptoms of a migraine may include:
- Throbbing or dull aching pain on one or both sides of the head
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Changes in how a person sees, including blurred vision or blind spots, zig-zags of light or light flashes
Sensitivity to light, noise and odors
- Tiredness
- Confusion
- Nasal congestion
- Feeling cold or sweating
- Stiff or tender neck
- Anxious or restlessness
- Lightheadedness
- Tender scalp
- Cold hands and feet


Treatment of migraines;

1) Prophylactic therapy includes:
- eliminating the controllable triggers, such as chocolate or red wine
- improving the person's physical, mental and emotional health by exercising, biofeedback, relaxation techniques, rest and stress reduction
- taking medications to prevent the onset of an attack
The most widely used preventive drugs are beta blockers, such as propranolol hydrochloride (Inderal), nadolol (Corgard), timolol maleate (Blocadren), atenolol (Tenormin), and metoprolol tartrate (Lopressor, Toprol-XL). Beta blockers have an indirect effect on serotonin, preventing dilation of the blood vessels and decreasing overstimulating impulses from the brain.
Another commonly used class of preventive medications consist of the tricyclic antidepressants, primarily amitriptyline (Elavil) and nortriptyline (Pamelor). Newer antidepressants, including the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors fluoxetine (Prozac) and sertraline (Zoloft), have also been used to a lesser extent.
A third class of preventive medications includes calcium channel blockers, , such as verapamil and diltiazem hydrochloride (Cardizem).
More recently, other agents such as valproic acid (Depakote), gabapentin (Neurontin), and topiramate (Topamax), have been used.
These medications are only available by prescription. Side effects and precautions should be discussed with a physician.

2) Abortive Therapy
Once the migraine has set in, there are two methods of reducing the pain: non-drug and drug-based methods. The non-drug methods include:
- sleep, which will often relieve the headache
- massage or acupuncture
The drug-based treatment includes analgesics such as aspirin, acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Naprosyn), naproxen sodium (Anaprox), and ketorolac (Toradol). In many cases of mild migraine, acetaminophen or ibuprofen plus sleep will be enough to stop the headache. Prescription medications are not always needed.
The serotonin receptor agonists (“triptans”) include almotriptan (Axert), frovatriptan (Frova), naratriptan (Amerge), rizatriptan (Maxalt), sumatriptan (Imitrex), and zolmitriptan (Zomig). These can be very effective in certain patients. They should not be used in basilar, hemiplegic, and ophthalmoplegic migraine due to potentially serious side effects.
Ergot derivatives are older medications that are today usually used only for severe intractable headaches.
The prescription medications may have serious side effects, which should be discussed with a physician prior to treatment. There is a limit to how frequently they may be used in any given period. If this limit becomes a problem, preventive medications should be considered.