What are the treatment options for migraine?
Painkillers
Paracetamol or aspirin work well for many migraine attacks. (Children under 16 should not take aspirin.) Take a dose as early as possible after symptoms begin. If you take painkillers early enough, they often reduce the severity of the headache, or stop it completely. A lot of people do not take a painkiller until a headache becomes really bad. This is often too late for the painkiller to work well. The only solution may then be to find a a quiet, dark room to 'sleep it off'.
Take the full dose of painkiller. For an adult this means 900 mg aspirin (usually three tablets) or 1000 mg of paracetamol (usually two 500 mg tablets). Repeat the dose in four hours if necessary. Soluble tablets are probably best as they are absorbed more quickly than solid tablets.
Anti-inflammatory painkillers
Anti-inflammatory painkillers probably work better than paracetamol or aspirin to ease a migraine. (Although, strictly speaking aspirin is an anti-inflammatory painkiller.) They include ibuprofen which you can buy at pharmacies or get on prescription. Other types such as diclofenac, naproxen, or tolfenamic acid need a prescription.
Dealing with nausea and sickness
Migraine attacks may cause nausea (feeling sick) or vomiting. The nausea causes poor absorption of tablets into your body. If you take painkillers, they may remain in your stomach and not work well if you feel sick. You may even vomit the tablets back. Tips that may help include:
- Use soluble (dissolvable) painkillers. These are absorbed more quickly from your stomach and are likely to work better.
- You can take an anti-sickness medicine with painkillers. A doctor may prescribe one. Like painkillers, they work best if you take them as soon as possible after symptoms begin.
- An anti-sickness medicine is available as a suppository if you feel very sick or vomit during migraine attacks. A painkiller suppository is also available.
Combinations of medicines Some tablets contain both a painkiller and an anti-sickness medicine. For example, Migraleve, Paramax, Migramax, and Domperamol. They may be convenient. However, the dose of each constituent may not suit everyone, or be strong enough. You may prefer to take painkillers and anti-sickness medicines separately so that you can control the dose of each.
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MRS B MONK, about 1 year
I have suffered from migraine headaches since I was 15 and doctors treated me with dixerit tablets ,I still got migraines and three years ago my GP gave me tolfenamic acid and they work as long as you take them in the early stages of a migraine.
Report this commentdebragoodwin, about 1 year
i have been suffering with mirgrains for sometime now ,it seems to have occured more since i gave up smoking can this be a cause and a factor, im laid out with them for about three to four days in bed in a dark room i also get very sick. its getting to the point were im losing days in my life and iv tried almost everything including my doctor which to no avail. why is it not being more looked into if there are this amount of people suffering surely theres got to be more medical help out there.
Report this commentGORDON DIMENT, about 1 year
As a Hypnotherapist in the Maidstone area I treat quite a number of clients in connection with Migraine and there seems little doubt that the vast majority are female, who are anxious,have a stressful lifestyle, and worry excessively. Helping them to relax, reduce anxiety and stress levels and keep things more in perspective, usually reduces the frequency and severity of attacks and in some cases to lose their migraine completely.
Report this commentTONY WOOLDRIDGE, about 1 year
Have read in the New Scientist that migraines are a symptom of a neurological condition (found in recent research in a US university) with sufferers showing signs of cerebral base nerve swelling. Have you heard of this?
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Lisa Vose, about 1 year
I am a 41 year old lady who has suffered with migrain with aura for as long as i can remember. I get them quite often and they are set off by stress, however it occurs after the stress has passed not while stress is present. Another trigger for myself which is the more frequent of the attacks is bright strip lighting, snow, yes i did mean snow. The white glare will set off the migain. I am afraid when i go into shops. I have to look what the lighting is before i enter. I am sad today as my 11 year old son has had his first migrain with aura and has been vomiting most of the day. As a mother i feel that i should help him and make it better. I only pray this is a one off and he will never have another. Best wishes to all my fellow sufferers out there. Lets hope there is a cure soon.
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