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if I tolerate it. Tell me, is it possible to treat migraines differently - not to suppress attacks, but to prevent them?

Preventive treatment for migraine really exists. The bottom line is that a person with this type of headache takes a drug every day for a certain amount of time. His choice is made by a neurologist after examination.

By ROBINSON JAMES HERBERTPublished 3 years ago 5 min read
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 if I tolerate it. Tell me, is it possible to treat migraines differently - not to suppress attacks, but to prevent them?
Photo by Nik Shuliahin on Unsplash

Persistent migraine

I have had more migraine attacks - from one per month to two per week. I take to relieve pain, but it doesn't matter if I tolerate it. Tell me, is it possible to treat migraines differently - not to suppress attacks, but to prevent them?

Preventive treatment for migraine really exists. The bottom line is that a person with this type of headache takes a drug every day for a certain amount of time. His choice is made by a neurologist after examination.

This medicine does not act on the symptoms, but on the very mechanisms of the seizure development. It reduces the number and severity of migraine attacks. Allows you to reduce the burden of painkillers.

But not all patients are prescribed such preventive treatment. It is justified if:

headache attacks are more frequent up to eight times a month or two a week;

the patient cannot take analgesics and triptans due to contraindications - in the presence of uncontrollable hypertension, coronary heart disease and brain disease, after a heart attack;

a person does not tolerate migraine medications. So, for example, in some people, after taking such drugs, blood pressure rises or falls, and the pulse quickens. Hot flashes and a feeling of a lump in the throat occur. Abdominal pain and dry mouth appear. And although these side effects are temporary, not all patients can come to terms with them;

a person has a rare hereditary form of headache - the so-called hemiplegic migraine. With its development, the risk of stroke increases.

The art of choice

Today, seven groups of drugs are used for the preventive treatment of migraines - from drugs to reduce blood pressure to female sex hormones.

Almost all of them were discovered by chance, during their practical application, and were not specially created for this purpose. Therefore, at first glance, it may seem strange why a person with migraine is given a medication for epilepsy or depression. And so that he does not have a desire to cancel it, the doctor explains what its use is.

Finding such a drug is a whole art. The doctor must take into account the mechanism of its action, effectiveness, spectrum of undesirable reactions. Looks at concomitant human diseases. First of all, on the existing mental disorders.

It is important that the prescribed drug does not exacerbate these problems, but rather helps to eliminate them. It also takes into account previous experience with the drugs and their compatibility. For example, concomitant use of vasodilator drugs can negate all preventive treatment for migraine.

In addition, we immediately adjust the patient - there may not be a quick effect from such treatment. You have to wait, be patient. The drugs show their properties within three months.

In this case, treatment is considered effective if the number of attacks is halved. For example, if you used to have a migraine headache eight times a month, but now it only hit you four times, this is already good. In the future, there will be even fewer attacks. And those that arise can be eliminated with smaller doses of other drugs.

Preventive Botox

In addition to drugs for the preventive treatment of migraines, Botox and its analogues are used. Today it is a scientifically proven, well tested and proven method that is the “gold standard of treatment”.

The drug is injected into the places of greatest tension and soreness on the head. It relaxes stiff muscles. Nerve endings that transmit pain are blocked. And thus the frequency and severity of migraine attacks are reduced.

One injection session usually lasts 4-6 months. Then the drug is completely excreted from the body. And its introduction can be repeated. And if you don't like something - refuse or reduce the dose of the medicine.

Temporary effect

However, no matter how successful preventive treatment is, it is unlikely to be able to get rid of migraines forever. After all, migraine is a chronic disease, most often inherent in the genes. This means that under the influence of different provocateurs and at different periods of life, it can return.

Therefore, preventive courses must be repeated from time to time. It is possible to change the drugs, their dosages, and the mode of administration.

But the person's own attitude to the disease is also important. Every patient with migraine should understand that the frequency of migraines directly depends on their lifestyle.

It is necessary to identify all your personal risks - those factors that provoke an attack specifically for you. They can be stress or any strong emotions, lack of sleep, overworking at the computer, eating certain foods or drinks, inhaling odors.

And as soon as the impact of one of these factors is expected, prophylactic treatment is applied the day before. For example, if you know that in two days you will take an exam, sleep a little and strain your eyes a lot, you need to take, for example, some nootropic.

Another, purely female case of episodic prophylaxis is menstrual migraine. It appears at the end of the cycle due to a drop in hormone levels. In this situation, 3-4 days before the start of menstruation, a woman is recommended to take NSAIDs - non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. This will help prevent severe attacks from developing.

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About the Creator

ROBINSON JAMES HERBERT

I'm a worshiper of creativity and knowledge. I'm a researcher of many sectors. I like to write my own view on various subjects, and also like to write about techniques and tips. Follow me to get amazing information and tips.

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