Natural Home Remedies for Migraines Headache at Headaches-Migraine-Relief.com

While most people only think about the piercing pain in their head that they experience during a migraine attack, there are quite a few associated symptoms. Some of these symptoms can occur before the headache begins and are used as warning signs by people who suffer from frequent migraines. If you have symptoms before your headache begins, you probably have classic migraines. These warning signs are often called auras. If you don’t have any symptoms before the migraine begins, you are most likely suffering from common migraines.

Usually, if you have classic migraines, you won’t have common migraines. However, on occasion, you may suddenly have one type of migraine when you usually have the other. No matter which type of migraine you have, there are quite a few symptoms that can develop because of an attack. Some are more common before a classic attack, while others can happen during all types of migraines. Here is a list of common symptoms you should be aware of.

* A dull ache developing in the jaw, neck, or back of the head.

* Pain in an eye socket.

* Pain in your forehead.

* Loss of vision in one of your eyes for a short time.

* Blurred vision in either one or both of your eyes.

* Strange odors that only you can smell.

* Visual or auditory hallucinations.

* Nausea.

* Sensitivity to light.

* Pain when you stand up or sit down.

* Loss of hand-eye coordination.

* Dizziness and problems with balance.

* Speaking difficulties.

* Difficulty focusing and thinking clearly.

* Exhaustion.

* Weakness in one or all your limbs.

* Temporary paralysis on either your right or left side.

You may notice that some of your migraines are gone in just a few hours, especially if you take a long nap and a painkiller. However, more severe migraines are more debilitating, taking an entire night or even two weeks to finally disappear. If you suffer from one of these migraines, don’t expect to bounce back right away. The longer period of pain will probably leave you feeling extremely drained and tired for several days after the headache is gone.

So, if you suffer from migraines, be sure to learn your symptoms. With experience, you may be able to lessen the severity of a developing migraine. A combination of immediate rest, medication and a dark, quiet room will often help reduce the impact of the approaching migraine. Prevention is always better than cure folks.

Migraine is a neurological disease of which the most common symptom is an intense and disabling episodic headache. Migraine headaches are usually characterized by severe pain on one or both sides of the head. Absent serious head injuries, stroke, and tumors, the recurring severity of the pain indicates a vascular headache rather than a tension headache . More than 28 million Americans three times more women than men suffer from migraine headaches, a type of headache that’s often severe. In some cases, these painful headaches are preceded or accompanied by a sensory warning sign such as flashes of light, blind spots or tingling in your arm or leg. A migraine headache is also often accompanied by other signs and symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound. Migraine pain can be excruciating and may incapacitate you for hours or even days. Fortunately, management of migraine headache pain has improved dramatically in the last decade. If you’ve seen a doctor in the past and had no success, it’s time to make another appointment. Although there’s still no cure, medications can help reduce the frequency of migraine headaches and stop the pain once it has started. The right medicines combined with self-help remedies and changes in lifestyle may make a tremendous difference for you.

A migraine headache is a throbbing or pulsating headache that is often one sided (unilateral) and associated with nausea; vomiting; sensitivity to light, sound, and smells; sleep disruption; and depression. Attacks are often recurrent and tend to become less severe as the migraine sufferer ages. Migraine headaches seem to be caused in part by changes in the level of a body chemical called serotonin. Serotonin plays many roles in the body, and it can have an effect on the blood vessels. When serotonin levels are high, blood vessels constrict (shrink). When serotonin levels fall, the blood vessels dilate (swell). This swelling can cause pain or other problems. Many things can affect the level of serotonin in your body, including your level of blood sugar, certain foods and changes in your estrogen level if you’re a woman.

Causes of Migraine

The cause of migraine is unknown. The condition may result from a series of reactions in the central nervous system caused by changes in the body or in the environment. There is often a family history of the disorder, suggesting that migraine sufferers may inherit sensitivity to triggers that produce inflammation in the blood vessels and nerves around the brain, causing pain. Many factors can trigger migraines, including tiredness, stress, dehydration, missed or delayed meals, and certain food and drinks, such as cheese, chocolate, coffee, tea and alcohol.

Symptoms of Migraine

1. Anxiety

2. Exposure to light

3. Sensitivity to light and sound

4. Lack of food or sleep

5. Nausea with or without vomiting

6. Stress

Treatment of Migraine

1. Try avoiding any food which seems implicated and at a later stage take a small trial dose of the food again to see whether it genuinely is involved.

2. Sometimes bathing your head in cold water or using a cold compress on the forehead is helpful.

3. At the first symptom of an attack take a pain killer eg aspirin or paracetamol, even if this means waking yourself up when you notice symptoms while half asleep in the early hours of the morning. (Often by getting up time it is too late to abort the attack.)

4. Sometimes relaxation and meditation techniques may be helpful as may some of the complementary therapies.

5. There are some over the counter preparations which contain a pain killer and a medication which stops nausea and vomiting (antiemetic). These are often even more effective than the pain killer alone, as migraine is associated with poor absorption from the stomach and a tendency for food and drink to stay in the stomach much longer than usual (prior to being sick).

Ways to Identify Migraine Symptoms for Treatment and Relief

Is it? Is it not? Could it be just a headache? How can you tell it’s a migraine? These are questions every migraine sufferer asks when migraines first make an appearance into their lives. Not just that, there are two kinds – the classic migraine and the common migraine. The choice becomes even more difficult as you suffer – which one do you have?
First of all, a migraine headache isn’t just a headache. It is usually accompanied by one or more symptoms – nausea, dizziness, blurring of the vision, not being able to face bright lights, etc. Secondly, a migraine, unlike a headache, lasts a long time. From over an hour to a few days if it’s a bad case.
More often than not, migraine sufferers experience auras. This is one of the differentiating features of migraines. Migraines happen when the blood vessels which constrict because of serotonin, begin dilating and causing pain in the nerves. A tension headache on the other hand, affects the whole head and rarely lasts as long as a migraine. It is also not accompanied by these other symptoms.
Let’s look at the two types of migraines. You have the common one which develops more slowly. Before an attack, there is usually anxiety or depression. There could also be spells of yawning and tiredness or irritability. Once the pain starts, it usually settles on one side of the head.
A classic migraine on the other hand has various stages it goes though.
First comes the prodome stage which might begin with the same low feeling or with irritability like the common migraine.
It then goes into the aura stage in about 24 hours. Here, the blood vessels narrow and there is an aura you see which fills up half of each eye. There could also be other disturbing things like spots, bright flashes, zigzag lights, etc which you see. When it’s bad, there could also be burning sensations and weakness. This could last up to half an hour at times.
Then comes the third stage where the blood vessels dilate and let the blood flow into the brain. This is when the bad pain begins. In the classic migraine this could be on both sides of the brain or only on one side. Sometimes there is just one spot that hurts unbearably. Bright light and noise very often aggravate the condition. The final stage is utter exhaustion.
Only a migraine sufferer knows how bad his condition can be. That is why it is important to see a doctor as soon as you feel you have started getting migraines. At least you will have medication to help you through the very painful parts.
It’s tough to have your life come to a halt because of a migraine. It’s worse if you get them often. It could ruin your chances at your place of work and interfere with your personal and social life, too. That’s why a physician’s help is essential. Today, there are specialists who have experience in dealing with the problem. It is better to go and seek their opinion than to suffer so much pain.

A majority of the migraine attacks are accompanied by headache, which is an intense, throbbing or pounding pain involving one temple. At times, the pain may be located in the forehead or around the eye or the back of the head. Usually, migraine attack reoccurs and is a chronic disability. The headache is generally on one side of the head, though it may rarely happen on both the sides. The unilateral headache changes sides alternatively, from one attack to another, which is, in fact, characteristic of migraine (otherwise it may be a more serious problem).

Daily routines like walking upstairs aggravate a migraine headache. The most common and obvious symptoms of migraine are nausea, vomiting, or sensitivity to light. Some people experience warning symptoms called aura before the actual beginning of a headache. An aura is a group of symptoms, mainly a vision disturbance which foretells that a headache is coming. But, most of the people do not have such warning signs. In fact, migraine headaches are classified based on their symptoms such as migraine without aura, migraine with aura and mixed tension migraine.

Migraine without aura: The most common symptoms can be a throbbing pulsating headache, which is usually worse on the sides of the forehead, generally only on one side, that can be either severe or dull, lasting for six to forty eight hours. The other symptoms are dizziness, vertigo (a feeling that the room is moving), loss of appetite, fatigue and nausea. There may be symptoms after a migraine attack too. It can be dullness, neck pain and a need for more sleep. Such symptoms may be accompanied apart from headache.

Migraine with aura: Before the headache, the warning symptoms may occur anywhere from a few minutes to 24 hours and the aura or vision changes happen in one or both the eyes. The symptoms may be one or more of the following; seeing zigzag lines, seeing flashing lights, temporary blind spots, sensitivity to bright light, visual hallucinations, blurred vision and eye pain. Accompanying the headache, there are other symptoms like loss of appetite, chills, increased urination, increased sweating, irritability and fatigue. The “pounding” headache starts on one side and spreads to the other side that typically starts as a dull ache and progressively worsens over several minutes to hours. So, the patients wish to rest in a quiet, dark room.

Mixed tension migraine: This migraine is a headache with features of both tension and migraine headache. The symptoms include headache on one or both sides and the person may feel dull, tight and the pain, which varies from mild to severe, may get worse with activity, lasting from 4 to 72 hours. Sensitivity to light or sound, depression, tingling, sluggishness, numbness, and weakness are other symptoms.

Unfortunately, migraine headache is a recurring chronic ailment, which may recur after 24 hours for some people.

Millions of people find themselves regularly suffering from migraine headaches, which often have easily recognizable symptoms. Most regular sufferers can identify a migraine quickly after the onset of symptoms, which last anywhere from several hours to several days. Available treatment options should be attempted as soon as symptoms appear, in order to shorten the length of the headache. This will help prevent the headache from interfering with your work and home life. It could also deter any atypical migraine symptoms from occurring. As science and medicine progress, more and more treatment options are becoming available for regular sufferers of migraine headaches.

In most people who experience migraine headaches, they are a problem that reoccurs. For whatever reason, certain people are much more prone to attacks of migraines and will have the symptoms on multiple occasions. While there are common migraine symptoms, some sufferers also experience atypical migraine symptoms. People who have regular migraines can frequently identify symptoms that precede the headache itself. Some classic examples are pain around the eye area, nausea, or sensitivity to sound. There might be a throbbing pain in the forehead or near one temple.

Treatment Options for Atypical Migraine Symptoms

In the past, people who were suffering from regular migraine headaches had few options but to sleep or take over the counter pain medications. These severe headaches could last for 24 hours or more. They would interfere with a person’s responsibilities at work and home, leaving them unable to concentrate. However, medical research has begun to provide more solutions for these powerful headaches. There are also simple techniques that can be done without medication. For example, applying ice to the locations where pain is occurring will help reduce the inflammation. Steady breathing exercises and other relaxation techniques can be used effectively to reduce the intensity or even the number of attacks. Traditional Eastern practices such as acupuncture have solutions for migraines as well.

Many brands of pain medication now offer over the counter options that are specific to migraine headaches and the symptoms that accompany the pain. These pills can provide a fast solution to the infrequent migraine sufferer. However, for people who experience migraines on a regular basis or have atypical migraine symptoms, it is important to speak to a doctor about alternative solutions. There are prescription painkillers and anti-inflammatory medications available, as well as drugs that can help reduce the frequency of migraines. Your general care physician should have knowledge of these treatments or be able to refer you to a specialist.

Migraine sufferers should take their medications when they first notice symptoms of a migraine headache. By taking the medication early, it will have time to help your body avoid the most intense pain and nausea and allow you to return to your day quickly. These treatment options are great solutions for people who are frustrated by frequent migraine headaches. Take control of your life by calling your doctor today. He or she will help you find a solution to migraine headaches.

Migraine is one of the most painful and debilitating conditions a person may suffer from and what is worse, there is not much you can do about it. Migraine headaches are often caused by the changes in the shape and size of the blood vessels that are found in the head. The blood vessels may expand or an inflammation may occur in the tissues that are found in that area.

Compared to the usual type of headache, the tension headache, which often occur on the entire head area, the pain in migraine headaches is more localized and much more specialized. It is however harder to predict when it will occur as migraine headaches do not present any warning signs. In fact, these types of headache will just happen when you least expect it to.

There are however kinds of migraines where some symptoms may be observed. One type is what is commonly called as the classic migraine headache where in the person suffering from it may see a hallucination called ‘aura’ before it actually occurs. Auras are visual hallucinations that resemble lights or zigzagging lines in the person’s line of vision. The hallucination can last from about 15 minutes up to an hour. The duration vary from one case to another. There may also be pain in the areas surrounding the eyes, temporary blind spots and blurred vision.

As to what exactly causes this to happen in such an unsystematic way, no one knows yet. Ongoing researches about the underlying causes of migraines have not yielded much and debates are still going on. Some specialists believe that migraine headaches may be caused by the constriction in the blood vessel, particularly in the electronic changes in the vessels that are similar with what happens during seizures. Others feel that migraines are actually hereditary and people with history of migraines in the family will most likely suffer from the problem.

A migraine headache should not be confused with the common headache, which a person may suffer from every now and then. They are poles different from one another. The migraine headache, for instance can last from four to 72 hours while the common headache, or what is commonly referred to by medical practitioners as tension headaches, can last only for a few hours. Pain is also more localized with the migraine headache, often occurring on the sides of the head while tension headaches can encompass the entire head area. Another difference is the intensity of the pain.

Tension headaches are milder and duller in comparison while migraine headaches can be really severe, accompanied by pounding throbbing pain that only increases. Migraine headaches can also be accompanied by other physical problems such as sensitivity to light, sound and odors as well as nausea and vomiting.

Migraine does not announce itself in a set of early symptoms. The recurring headaches just happen, often catching the person by surprise. There is however one kind where in the person may see a visual hallucination, called an aura, before the actual migraine headache occurs. This kind is called the classic migraine headache.

Environmental and other physiological factors may also contribute in the occurrence of migraine headaches. One factor is stress-related. Over exertion and over fatigue especially in the eye area can cause severe migraine. Depression and anxiety are also factors that you should look into.

Other medical conditions that can start a migraine attack are colds, cough, influenza, and sinusitis. Food and diet may also play a role. Some experts believe that eating chocolates, drinking coffee and abusing alcoholic drinks may contribute in the attack. Sensorial triggers such as over bright lights, too much noise and strong odors may also trigger an attack.

The classic migraine headache is a lot different from what specialists call the common headaches, which occurs without any warning whatsoever. There is also the complicated migraines, which may be a manifestation of more serious medical problems in the nervous system. Often, this type migraine headache is accompanied by speech, movement and motor irregularities.

Migraines headaches are throbbing headaches that involve the brain’s blood vessels. Pain is felt when these blood vessels dilate or contract in an excessive manner. Studies have shown that the dilation and contraction of these blood vessels are influenced by a chemical in our body called serotonin. A high level of serotonin in our blood will cause our blood vessels to contract or shrink. Conversely when the level is low, it will cause our blood vessels to dilate or expand. Different individuals react differently to these dilation and expansion. Keep in mind that any migraine will be as unique as the person suffering from it and that these migraine headaches symptoms will vary from one individual to the next.

To better understand why this is so, it is important to know that there are different classifications of migraines. For our purpose, we will group all these different classifications into two main types, namely the ‘common migraine’ and the ‘classic migraine’

The ‘common migraine’ is a throbbing headache that may start slowly but can last anywhere between two to seventy-two hours. The pain normally manifest itself by starting at the back of the head and then slowly spreading over to one side of the head. This localized pain can also take place in the center of the temple or behind an ear.

The word ‘migraine’ is derived from the Greek word “hemikrania” which means half a skull. This description aptly describes a typical characteristic of migraine headache in that the pain is usually localized on one side. Common symptoms of this type of migraine headache are the blurring of vision, feeling nausea and perhaps vomiting, and sometimes a tingling or even numb feeling in the limbs. There is also an increased sensitivity to lights and sounds.

The ‘classic migraine’ is very similar to the ‘common migraine’ in its manifestation and practically follow the same pattern as the latter, There is, however, one big difference between the two types of migraines in that ‘classis migraine’ is normally accompanied by a collection of migraine headaches symptoms that are called an aura. This aura, as described by many sufferers, can include an appearance of flashes, spark-like lights, or bright stars. Vision typically becomes unclear.

Common symptoms of the classic migraines headaches in addition to the pain include the individual having difficulty in speaking, detecting of strange smells and experiencing weakness. These auras can last anywhere between 15 to 30 minutes before the headache starts. Sometimes they can overlap and at times the aura may occur but a headache doesn’t.

Migraines can affect anyone but studies indicate that approximately three times as many women will get them as men. They are often found to run in families. The pattern of how often these headaches may occur vary greatly from one person to the next. Some may experience it only once or twice a year but others may suffer from it on a weekly basis. Children can also get migraines but the pain may may be more diffused instead of localized. These migraine headaches are normally accompanied by symptoms such as vomiting and dizziness.  

In recent years the incidence of migraines has increased dramatically, across the board, in all groups. Studies have shown that these migraine attacks can be prevented if timely intervention actions are taken before the attacks. Hence, it important for you to be aware of the wide spectrum of migraine headaches symptoms and to take necessary timely intervention to prevent the migraine headaches from happening.

Women are ill more often, than men, in the ratio 4:1. Attacks of a migraine appear at teenage and youthful age, in the course of time tend to disappear (men after 45 years, women close to menopause period). There are two basic types of a migraine:

1. The usual migraine also known as a migraine without aura
2. The classical migraine also known as a migraine with aura

In most cases the aura designates the symptoms causing frustration of sight. Other symptoms connected with aura, – frustration of hearing and other feelings, confusion, impellent and mental frustration. The stage of aura usually lasts from 4 to 60 minutes. (i.e. migraines with aura) suffer from a classical migraine approximately 15 % of all patients.

The reasons of a migraine

Symptoms of a migraine are caused by change of blood vessels of a brain, however the reason of occurence is unknown. Approximately 70 % of patients have family predisposition to a migraine. Also occurrence of a migraine is promoted by following factors: stress, a nervous and physical overstrain, food factors (cheese, chocolate, nuts, a fish), alcohol (more often beer and red wine, champagne), the hormonal reasons (perios, reception of contraceptives), sleep (lack or surplus), weather factors (change of weather, change of climatic conditions).

Symptoms of a migraine

In general the migraine is shown by the sharp, accrueing pulsing pain localized in one half of a skull. Other symptoms of a migraine:

* the Raised light sensitivity and to sounds
* Vomiting
* the Nausea
* Drowsiness
* the General weakness
* Infringement of impellent functions
* Infringements of sight (flashes, zigzags, spirals etc).

During migraines shoot the light and sounds around can be intolerably irritating, and movement can hurt. Attacks of a migraine begin suddenly, however in some cases of patients can feel weariness, depression or insuperable bent for sweet.
As the sharp headache can be a symptom of other diseases, it is necessary to address to the doctor if the pain does not weaken during 24 hours and is accompanied by rise in temperature or occurrence rigidity cervical muscles. Also it is necessary to address for medical assistance if the headache is accompanied by unusual symptoms.

Preventive maintenance of a migraine

Some factors can promote occurrence of a migraine, therefore they are recommended to be avoided. The following concern to such factors:

* Stress and depression
* Undereating or famine
* Smoking
* Foodstuff (cheese, chocolate, nuts, a fish, the Chinese meal and bananas)
* Lack or surplus of a dream
* the Drinks containing caffeine (coffee, tea and cola)
* Alcohol, especially red wine
* Reception of contraceptives
* Travel – flights and the frustration of biorhythms connected with them
* Change of a climate and habitual conditions
* Hormonal variations at women (during pregnancy, period or a climax)

Sometimes it’s difficult to define the reasons causing a migraine – frequently it not one factor but their combination. However even the detected trigger can cause only some attacks of a migraine but not all of them. Also, the rist factors are all individual.

Diagnostics of a migraine

For diagnostics of a migraine it is enough to therapist to learn about symptoms and frequency of attacks. Also spend inspection and appoint some analyses.
Also the doctor can advise to keep a diary within 2-3 months to track the scheme of occurrence of attacks. If in a migraine the certain scheme is traced, it specifies action of the certain factors.

Treatment of a migraine

If you feel approach of a migraine, immediately stop all activities, lye down in a dark room where is no street noise, and take a tablet of paracetamol or aspirin. If these measures will appear inefficient, the doctor can appoint other medical products. This medicines are effective if to accept them right at the beginning of an attack, especially if the headache is accompanied by a nausea.
If migraines bother you time or two in a week, the doctor will appoint a medicine for preventive maintenance.
If the migraine arises under action of the certain factor, is better to avoid this factor in the future.

A migraine attack can occur once in a month, once a week or even once every day and hence it is episodic. It occurs in the brain and nerves and so is neurological and therefore, migraine is defined as an episodic neurological disorder.

The migraine attack may occur for the first time for boys at about 10 years of age and for girls, the peak age for experiencing a migraine is near 14 years, during their first menstrual period. So, it is sensible to conclude that migraines may be hormonally related and is often referred to as a menstrual migraine.

When compared to other migraines, menstrual migraines last longer, are more severe, occur more often with nausea and vomiting and are more difficult to treat. Migraines are related to changes in the level of estrogen during a woman’s menstrual cycle, which drops immediately before the start of menstrual flow.

Premenstrual migraines regularly occur during or after the time when the female hormones estrogen and progesterone decrease to their lowest levels. But generally, migraine attacks disappear during pregnancy. Women who undergo hormone replacement therapy for menopause and those who take birth control pills experience change in the frequency or severity of migraine headaches.

Strictly, a menstrual migraine is the one, which starts from two days before to three days after the first day of period and occurs around most of the periods. There are two types of migraine; pure menstrual migraine is the one, which occurs only around periods and not at other times and menstrual associated migraine is the other that occurs around the periods and at other times too.

Migraines become more frequent while a woman approaches the menopause, since the level of estrogen tends to fluctuate at this stage. However, once past the menopause, the number of migraines tends to reduce. A migraine diary maintained for three months or so helps to see the pattern of migraines and confirm it as a menstrual migraine.

For women, who have a severe menstrual migraine, it is better to prevent them before the attack -at least to make it less frequent and less severe. It is good to maintain a dairy to compare before and after treatment. Once the migraine attack takes place, the treatment for it is the same as for other causes of migraine, such as anti-inflammatory painkillers and taking estrogen supplements.

Anti inflammatory painkillers can be used to treat migraine attacks and a short course can be used to treat as soon as the period starts, until the end of the menstrual period. But people who have duodenal ulcer or asthma cannot take such medications. A few days use of anti-inflammatory pill will have no side effects. Another option for treatment of menstrual migraine is to enhance the level of estrogen just before and during the periods, which is like hormone replacement therapy just for seven days each month.

A migraine can be disabling — with symptoms so severe, all you can think about is finding a dark, quiet place to lie down. Up to 17 percent of women and 6 percent of men have experienced a migraine.

More than 29.5 million Americans suffer from migraine, with women being affected three times more often than men. This vascular headache is most commonly experienced between the ages of 15 and 55, and 70% to 80% of sufferers have a family history of migraine. Less than half of all migraine sufferers have received a diagnosis of migraine from their healthcare provider. Migraine is often misdiagnosed as sinus headache or tension-type headache.

Causes of Migraine

Foods. Certain foods appear to trigger headaches in some people. Common offenders include alcohol, especially beer and red wine; aged cheeses; chocolate; fermented, pickled or marinated foods; aspartame; overuse of caffeine; monosodium glutamate — a key ingredient in some Asian foods; certain seasonings; and many canned and processed foods. Skipping meals or fasting also can trigger migraines.

Sensory stimuli. Bright lights and sun glare can produce head pain. So can unusual smells — including pleasant scents, such as perfume and flowers, and unpleasant odors, such as paint thinner and secondhand smoke.

A migraine begins when, for some reason, blood vessels in the brain narrow (constrict) temporarily. When that happens, the amount of blood and oxygen flowing to the brain drops. So the brain sends a message: “Hey guys, we need some more blood and oxygen here!”

Until recently, the general theory on the migraine process rested solely on the idea that abnormalities of blood vessel (vascular) systems in the head were responsible for migraines.

Symptoms of Migraine

Intense throbbing or dull aching pain on one side of your head or both sides.

Migraines typically begin in childhood, adolescence or early adulthood and may become less frequent and less intense as you grow older. In addition to physical suffering, severe headaches often mean missed school days and trips to the emergency department, as well as lost work time for anxious parents.

Most experts now agree that the term migraine should be used to refer to a chronic, recurrent neurological condition resulting in periodic attacks of head pain rather than the headache.

Changes in how a person sees, including blurred vision or blind spots, zig-zags of light or light flashes

Treatment of Migraine

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved three over-the-counter products to treat migraine. Excedrin® Migraine (a combination of aspirin, acetaminophen and caffeine) is indicated for migraine and its associated symptoms. Advil® Migraine and Motrin® Migraine Pain, both ibuprofen medications, are approved to treat migraine headache and its pain.

Ergots. Ergotamine (Ergomar) has been in use for more than 60 years and was a common prescription for migraine before triptans were introduced. Ergotamine is much less expensive, but also less effective, than triptans. Dihydroergotamine is an ergot derivative that is more effective and has fewer side effects than ergotamine.

Drug names and migraine headache treatments availability vary widely from the USA and UK. Migraine headache treatments fall into two broad categories: first with migraine treatments are analgesics and analgesic combinations and, secondly, migraine-specific therapies, such as the triptans, ergotamine and dihydroergotamine. Many of these are available only on prescription but there is a variety of therapeutic options available over the counter (OTC) and pharmacists can often advise patients about these.

Beta blockers (e.g., propranolol [Inderal®], atenolol [Tenormin®]) are the preferred medications. These drugs produce an effect on heart rate. They should not be taken by patients with asthma and should be used with caution in patients with diabetes.