Though research is progressing slowly, those facts are beyond medicine at present. There is no migraine cure, there are however treatments and preventions that can control or avoid migraine headache episodes or relieve the intensity of the migraine headache.

A migraine headache is a throbbing pain in the head that can be and often is unilateral (one sided) and it can be extremely painful as well as long lasting. The migraine headache progresses in stages with not all persons experiencing all of the stages.

The first stage is a prodome stage and the symptoms are often a change in energy level, in mood, in bowel habits, urination frequency, and sometimes sensitivity to light or sound. This is a broad spectrum of symptoms but a person with chronic migraine headaches learns to recognize this stage.

Only one in five persons with chronic migraines experiences the next stage, which is the aura. Often visual distortions, lights, black splotches or colors are present. Sometimes sounds, tastes or smells are distorted or present. Though often heard of it is not as common a symptom.

The migraine headache stage is what most persons with chronic migraine headaches experience. Only one in twenty persons who have chronic migraines avoids the pain stage. This stage is often characterized by nausea, possibly dizziness, sensitivity to light and sound in addition to the migraine headache pain.

The final migraine headache stage is recovery or Postdrome. The person may be disoriented with scalp tenderness or pain even though the headache is gone. Visual disturbances may linger and weakness or lack of coordination may continue during this stage.

A migraine headache can progress rapidly through all these stages in a matter of 3 – 4 hours or can linger for several days. It is no wonder a migraine cure is sought so avidly by those who experience migraines.

The exact reasons why a person has chronic migraines and others do not is unknown, there is ongoing research into genetic links, and research into how the trigeminal nerve in the face functions but the real answer is still out there. No one has a migraine cure, but there are treatments and means to help identify and prevent migraine headache episodes.

The most effective means thus far and the closest to a migraine cure are prophylactic medications, identification, and avoidance of migraine headache triggers.  Just as the stages and symptoms of a migraine headache vary from individual to individual there are some common triggers that can help the person avoid them. As time progresses the person with chronic migraine headaches can identify more of their individual triggers.

Though not a migraine cure, acupuncture and relaxation therapy have helped some persons with chronic migraine headaches manage the symptoms and avoid triggers such as stress.

With a chronic disorder as painful and potentially disruptive as migraine headaches, the temptation to reach for the fiction of a complete migraine cure is understandable. There is no magic pill that is a cure, but there are prescription medications that can act as preventatives or help lessen the severity of an episode.

With proper attention to diet, lifestyle and with the right medication the person who experiences chronic migraine headaches can have fewer headaches and lead a fuller and more comfortable life and this is the closest thing available right now to a migraine cure.

Though a migraine that occurs with no headache might seem a boon to some sufferers, the symptoms that occur with a migraine and no headache can be just as debilitating as the migraine headache pain. Only about 5% of the persons who experience chronic migraines regularly have a migraine without headache. However, some 20% of migraine sufferers experience a migraine with no headache occasionally.

A simple fact is that a migraine episode is not just a headache that is medicated or suffered through and it is over, the effects are multitudinous and most migraine sufferers spend hours or even days recovering after a severe migraine whether it is with a headache or without.

The various stages of a migraine are as follows:

The prodome stage (before the headache) where many migraine patients even those who do not experience an aura recognize this stage in muscle stiffness, food cravings, irritability, or increased urination.

The next stage is called the aura for those who experience auras. Only some 20% of patients with migraines experience auras and they can manifest in visual disturbances such as spots, flashing lights or zigzags. Other types of auras might be tastes, tingling, or buzzing in the ears. Patients who have migraine headaches and those who experience migraines but without a headache can go through the aura.

The migraine headache pain is absent in those few who have migraine without headache and its attendant dizziness nausea and other side effects however the visual disturbances, aura and prodome stages can be disruptive. Instead, the migraine manifests in visual disturbances most often with dots in front of the eyes or zigzags or flashes and sometimes tingling or numbness.

If a migraine without headache is infrequent and mild then not much need be done however, it is critical that medical advice be sought before dismissing the symptoms, a migraine without headache can be difficult to diagnose for even professionals.  The symptoms of a migraine without headache also can be significant of some other neurological or medical disorder and professional advice is important to distinguish a migraine from another condition.

If the migraine without headache is chronic and begins to interfere with daily life on a regular basis then sometimes the same  prophylactic medications that are used for the traditional migraine headaches work for the sufferer. There are a number of medications available to help alleviate the frequency and severity of migraines. Occasionally the migraine without headache episodes is so infrequent and mild that patients with that type do not need medication.

Because the migraine without headache does not include headache pain, the patient may delay seeking medical advice or even believe the symptoms are a sign of a mental disturbance if the migraines are of sudden onset. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth and headaches are only one manifestation of a migraine.

Chronic migraine headaches can be debilitating and for some people – very frequent. Narcotics were an inadequate answer for a person with a migraine headache since the whole idea was to function and be pain free and any narcotic can be addictive if used in excess. This brought about a completely new line in research and new medication for migraines and new choices for those with chronic migraine headaches.

A migraine headache often shows up in adolescence and continues until around age 60 for those with chronic migraines. Most persons with migraine headaches would only have the choice of aspirin or a trip to the hospital and strong narcotics as recently as 30 years ago.

This has changed immensely though and now the thrust is toward preventing the full-blown migraine headache by avoiding triggers and using interrupting or abortive medication designed to kill the pain and stop the cycle.

Medication for migraine headaches is becoming increasingly more sophisticated and directed to the problems associated with migraine headaches.

Serotonin appears to be low in some people with chronic migraines so some abortive types of (interrupts the migraine before it grows too large) medication for migraines are Triptans, which work on the serotonin level.

This is not a narcotic nor is it an effective painkiller for other types of pain other than headache but is proving to be effective as a medication that works for migraines. Other medications used to interrupt the migraine headache are acetaminophen-isometheptene-dichloralphenazone, dihydroergotamine and ergotamine tartrate.

Sometimes a migraine will progress too far to be interrupted and in that case, palliative medications are used to help relieve the symptoms. The most obvious of course is the headache pain but nausea is another uncomfortable migraine headache symptom that is addressed by specific medication.

A prophylactic (preventative) approach to migraine headaches is taken when the migraine episodes are several times a month and interfere with the individual’s quality of life and vocation or schooling.

The migraine prevention is often a drug that has been used for another purpose but is effective in preventing chronic migraines. It is important if preventative medication is prescribed that it be taken only as directed by the physician and exactly as directed to be safe and effective.

Though options have grown immensely in what medication for headaches is available one of the most effective treatments at this time for migraine headaches is the identification and avoidance of migraine headache triggers.

With some relatively simple lifestyle changes, regular sleep patterns, moderate exercise and a proper diet many persons who experience migraines can greatly reduce the occurrence without excessive need for medication.

In more severe cases or when a migraine episode gains too much of a foothold the newer medication for migraine headaches are injectable or inhalable which increases their efficiency immensely and control the pain much more quickly.

The days when the only medication for migraine pain was aspirin and a dark room are long past and now a person who experiences migraine headaches can look forward to pain free days.

With advances in medical science and research into the causes and imbalances that may be present during a migraine episode the patient who requires medication for migraine headaches has many more options. Of course, there are over the counter medication for migraine headaches that can work if taken soon enough. A mixture of one example is Excedrin for Migraines, which is effective on some migraine headaches.

One of the historical problems with medication for migraine headaches was their ability to be effective was limited by the fact that when the migraine headache begins it often produces a sympathetic response in the stomach which causes the digestive process to slow.

This decreases the effectiveness of medication that are taken orally since the medication just sits in the stomach. The nausea that is often experienced with a migraine headache also complicated taking medication orally since it is difficult to swallow or retain medicine when nauseous.

A chronic migraine headache is generally very painful and can cause lost work time and missed school as well as social obligations. A migraine headache episode can last from several hours to several days and most migraine sufferers find their function impaired or they are unable to function during their episodes.

There are three common approaches to medications for migraine headaches.

Preventative migraine headache medications
Palliative migraine medications
Interruptive migraine headache medications

It used to be that once a migraine headache began there were not many options as far as effective medication for migraine headaches went. However now there are medications that are intended to interrupt the headache not just fix the pain but to solve the issue. These medications are usually nasal sprays or injections.

Preventative medication for migraine headaches are used only in cases where migraine episodes are very frequent, at least one episode a week.  These are overall not drugs developed originally for migraine headaches but repurposed and can be effective if the physician deems it necessary.

Palliative medication for migraine headaches are for use when the migraine cannot be interrupted and is full blown. These might include anti-nausea medications and pain medications that work strictly upon migraine headaches. A last ditch recourse might be a narcotic but since migraine episodes are recurrent with many people, narcotics have limited usefulness.

Medications called Triptans are often used for migraine headaches. They help stop the pain and can interrupt the migraine headache though they are ineffective on anything but headaches.

Beta Blockers or Calcium channel blockers such as Propranolol and Verapamil are high blood pressure medications but are also sometimes used as preventative migraine headache medications. Diphenhydramine and Cyproheptadine are antihistamines that may be used to prevent migraine headaches in some persons.  Antidepressants such as Amytriptiline and Nortriptyline have had some success as well.

Because these drugs are used in ways not intended originally, it is important that they be used only under a physician’s direction. There are a growing group of medications either repurposed to treat migraines or developed specifically as medication for migraine headaches. There are choices in treatments as well as preventions for migraine headaches and control is better today than ever before.

The chances are strong that the person who experiences chronic migraines first tried over the counter migraines medications, which may not work if they are delayed too long or the headache is too intense. If the chronic migraines are severe and not amenable to lifestyle changes, the physician may try some other types of migraines medications.

Migraines Medications are divided generally into three types, which are:

Relief: The same thrust for these medications is present as the over the counter migraines medications intent is to help alleviate the symptoms. Not only migraine headaches may be targeted for pain relief but also sometimes anti-nausea prescriptions are added. Sometimes narcotics are used but not regularly, because any narcotic is habit forming.

Prevention: Regular doses of certain medications may be prescribed in order to prevent migraine headache occurrences. This is only done when the episodes are frequent, such as several times a month. Though these are not originally migraine medications, they can help to prevent many episodes.

Certain antidepressants such as Amytriptiline and Nortriptyline can help reduce the number of episodes.  Some antihistamines such as Diphenhydramine and Cyproheptadine though not migraines medications are used at times.  Calcium channel blockers such as Verapamil or beta blockers such as Propranolol are prescribed in some cases.

The use of these medications to act as migraines medications is always supervised by a physician.

Migraine medication after a migraine starts: These are intended to stop the migraine before it progresses too far. Of course, the effectiveness of these migraines medications depends on how quickly the symptoms are recognized and how the medication is administered.

1.Triptans are a class of migraines medications used to help provide serotonin and stop the headache pain. There are many drugs in this classification and it is worth noting that these work only upon headache pain and are ineffective against other types.

2.Other migraines medications may affect more than serotonin and are administered via a wafer or injection or sometimes a nasal spray. Such medications as acetaminophen-isometheptene-dichloralphenazone, dihydroergotamine, ergotamine tartrate are common of this class.

3.Nausea is common with migraine headaches and drugs such as prochlorperazin and promethazine not only help with the nausea but may help stop a migraine episode.

Many of the migraine medications intended to stop a migraine in progress are in nasal spray or injection form because of the improved speed as well as the nausea problems that many experience commonly with a migraine headache.

There are new migraine treatments and migraines medicines coming into use every day. The approach to migraine medication therapy will depend on the individual and their pattern of migraine headache episodes. The person who experiences chronic migraine episodes is no longer ignored or shunted off to the side.

The medical community has finally arrived at the conclusion that migraine headache patients are patients with a valid problem that may all be in their head, but it is not in their imagination. Seeking proper diagnosis and migraine medications where appropriate can improve the life of the individual as well as save time lost in employment, family activities and school time.

Although the exact cause of migraine is not yet very clear, there are some general triggering factors known for induction of migraine in an individual. However, as the cause is not definitely understood, the process of migraine cure is also anticipatory in nature, largely depending on some natural remedies and alternative medicine treatments. There is hardly any over-the counter medicine available for migraine cure.

In the list of triggering factors of migraine, low blood sugar, allergic reaction, stress, excessive alcohol consumption, inadequate rest, excessive smoking, consumption of birth control pills, over-indulgence of sex, and genetic history of chronic migraine are found to be common factors. The strict avoidance of triggering issues though not easy, is the best natural treatment for migraine cure.

However, leaving aside the life style issues, the rest of the factors like genetic history, low blood sugar, allergy infection, hormonal imbalance, or issues like climate change can neither be controlled nor can these factors be maneuvered on individual discretion. In such situations some herbal remedies may work effectively to get rid of the pain and irritations of migraine.

Throbbing headache and the discomfort of nausea are two most disturbing outcomes of the migraine problem. The affected person may try herbal mixtures of lemon for natural elimination of pain and nausea. The paste made by lemon crust needs to be applied on theforehead of the patient. The aroma of lemon should be inhaled through deep breathing. This simple natural remedy is highly praised by migraine victims for an instant and efficient migraine cure effect.

Those who suffer from chronic migraine pain should consume herbal tea instead of normal tea. Regular intake of chamomille tea reduces the intensity of migraine pain as well as it prevents migraine from being a recurring issue.

Migraine patients should be restrictive in their daily food intake. The diet that helps in prevention of migraine, is termed as migraine diet. Consumption of garlic in a regular diet helps efficiently in controlling the regular bouts of migraine. One can consume garlic in its raw or supplement form. Increased intake of vitamin B3 helps in alleviating migraine pain.

Yeast, green leafy vegetables, nuts, tomatoes, sunflower seeds, fish and liver are rich in vitamin B3 and are thus considered as an effective diet for migraine cure.

Regular consumption of fresh carrot juice, in combination with spinach or cucumber juice is often recommended as an efficient natural help for migraine cure.