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.

by sacks08 under CC BY

.

Chances are that the person who experiences severe 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 migraine medications.

Medication for migraine is generally divided into three types, which are:

Relief: The same thrust for these medications is present as in the over the counter medications that 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 solely migraine medications, they can help to prevent some of the 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 must be supervised by a physician at all times.

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 migraine headache pain and are less effective 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.