MIGRAINE
TREATMENTS |
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Most patients
regularly self-medicate with over-the-counter preparations such as
paracetamol or aspirin medicines. These are either taken alone or in
combination with codeine. Up to a third of sufferers can
satisfactorily manage migraine with this approach.
In prescribed
practice, the traditional first line treatment is paracetamol in
combination with metoclopropamide. Metoclopropamide relieves the
nausea and aids the absorption of the painkiller (paracetamol). Non-steroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs are also used as a first line therapy. These
may be particularly useful for those who get their attacks around
the time of their menstrual cycle.
If attacks occur
more than twice a month and are unresponsive to acute management,
consider the use of prophylactics or preventative treatments. There
are many different types of preventive treatments and their mode of
action is not well understood. The most commonly prescribed ones are
B-blockers (propanolol) others include calcium antagonists, sodium
valproate and pizotifen. Preventive treatments can reduce the
frequency of attacks by 50 percent in half of all sufferers.
The newer range of
medications for migraine, called triptans, are the so-called
designer drugs and they work in about 80 per cent of cases. But they
are not suitable for anybody under 18 or over 65 because of
cardiovascular concerns.
Recent research
indicates that during a migraine attack, when you feel nauseous, the
stomach can slow its normal activity. This condition is known as
Gastric Stasis and stops anything in your stomach from being
processed. So if you take your medication orally, it will not work.
However, there are medications that you can take to counter Gastric
Stasis and help with the absorption of medication into your system.
Some of these are available over-the-counter, or may be prescribed
by your doctor. |
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Many migraine sufferers claim to have benefited
from taking feverfew (Tanacetum Parthenium), a common, garden herb.
Some have found that they don’t need to take it continually – a
course of up to three months duration will leave them migraine-free
for long periods of time before they have to take more. Feverfew is
available in tablet form or you can purchase seeds from a reputable
seed merchant or herb farm (remember to ask specifically for
Tanacetum parthenium variety). The recommended daily dose is 125mg
or two medium sized leaves of feverfew. |
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| MIGRAINE RELATED ITEMS |
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