Migraine Conventional Treatment
The following groups of drugs are commonly used to treat migraine:
Analgesics: Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Acetaminophen are the common drugs of choice to control the pain during the acute attack of migraine. These drugs must be taken at the onset of the pain. The patient has to be careful not to take an excess of these drugs as they are not without any side effects.
Serotonin receptors and Ergot preparations are some other groups of drugs that are used to control pain. Some other drugs which are used as prophylactics are:
- Anti-seizure drugs
- Beta-blockers
- Calcium channel blockers
- Tricyclic antidepressants
These drugs help in reducing the frequency of attacks of migraine.
Certain auxiliary modes of treatment can be very helpful in bringing down the severity and frequency of the attacks. These could be in the form of:
- Homeopathy
- Stress reduction techniques such as Yoga, meditation, exercise
- Stress management by biofeedback and hypnosis
- Acupressure
Prevention plays a very significant role in migraine management. It's very important for the patient to monitor those factors which trigger off a headache such as certain foods, environmental changes, physical and emotional factors, etc. Avoidance of the triggers is essential for the long-term control of migraine.