Treatment options for migraine (cont'd)
Triptan medicines
A triptan is an alternative if painkillers do not help. These include: almotriptan, eletriptan, frovatriptan, naratriptan, rizatriptan, sumatriptan, and zolmitriptan. They are not painkillers. They work by interfering with a brain chemical called 5HT. An alteration in this chemical is thought to be involved in migraine. Some triptans work in some people and not in others. Therefore, if one triptan does not work, a different one may well do so. Most people who have migraine can usually find a triptan that works well for most migraines, and where side-effects are not too troublesome.
Do not take a triptan too early in an attack of migraine. (This is unlike painkillers described above which should be taken as early as possible.) You should take the first dose when the headache (pain) is just beginning to develop, but not before this stage. (For example, do not take it during the premonitory or aura phase until the headache begins.)
Preventing migraine attacks
A medicine to prevent migraine attacks is an option if you have frequent or severe attacks. It may not stop all attacks, but the number and severity are often reduced. Medicines to prevent migraine are not painkillers, and are different to those used to treat each migraine attack. A doctor can advise on the various medicines available. Another leaflet called 'Medicines to Prevent Migraine Attacks' provides more details.
Further sources of help and information
Migraine Action Unit 6 Oakley Hay Lodge Business Park, Great Folds Road, Great Oakley, Northants, NN18 9AS Tel: 01536 461333 Web: www.migraine.org.uk
Migraine Trust 2nd Floor, 55-56 Russell Square, London, WC1B 4HP Tel: 020 7436 1336 Web: www.migrainetrust.org
© EMIS and PIP 2005 Updated: May 2005 CHIQ Accredited PRODIGY Validated
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charlotte wright, about 1 year
having suffered wih migrains from the age of 12 and i am now 30 theres not alot that i dont know about the condition, i avoid all common triggers but i hadnt heard of Tyramine (food additive) be sure that i will be looking out for this in future. i would never normally comment on sites like this but as a sufferer it was nice to read other peoples comments it made me stop and think that i'm not the only one because it can be a very frustrating and lonely condition to have at times, i've only had 1 this week but i had four last week i hate them they rule my life!
Report this commentLesley Boshell, about 1 year
I found your artical interesting as I have only recently become a migrain sufferer, but whilst reading the inormation I found the pop up advertizing displayed on the right of my peripheral vision both annoying and irritating. The animation of the advert was as bad as flash photography and it almost made me switch to another site. It surprises me that you hadn't considered that a migrain sufferer would be sensitive to any visual bombardment and therefore it would be counter-productive. I hope you will replace it with a gentler type of advertizing. Regards Lesley Boshell (Mrs)
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debragoodwin, about 1 year
i have been suffering with mirgrains for some time now, i have tried many options including my doctors options which to no avail. they have got worse since i gave up smoking is this common and is this a known cause, i am also on quite a combernation of medication could this be a facter also.
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