Any Ideas on how to get rid of a Migraine Headache???? Any suggestions besides Tylenol or Excedrin, Tried Them

Answer 1

First, preventive, or prophylactic, medications are prescribed to prevent or reduce the number of attacks in patients who experience frequent Migraines, typically two or more per month. In general, these medications act over time to prevent blood-vessel swelling; however, they do not treat the Migraine-associated symptoms and are non-selective. Many sufferers using preventive treatments will still have to take attack-aborting medications to relieve pain and other symptoms.

Beta-blockers are the most commonly prescribed prophylactic treatment for Migraine and are considered to be an effective preventive treatment. Medication includes propranolol. Click here for more detailed information.

Antidepressants are believed to have a possible effect on serotonin or possible analgesic effects. Click here for more detailed information.

Calcium channel blockers are also used to decrease the frequency of Migraine attacks. It is thought that calcium channel blockers play a role in vessel constriction. Click here for more detailed information.

Methysergide is thought to block the inflammatory and vessel-constricting effects of serotonin. Because of potential side-effects, methysergide is generally used only on select patients. This medication also requires a four to six week drug hiatus every six months. Click here for more detailed information.

Divalproex Sodium (Depakote®) is probably the most promising of the preventive regiments currently available for Migraine. This drug was originally developed for Epilepsy; a disease often referred to as a sister disorder to Migraine, prescribed in much smaller doses when used to treat Migraine thus lessening the mild side effects.

Non-drug Alternatives to Preventative Treatment of Migraines
Gut Brain Therapy ™ MAGNUM looks into the exciting work that ForeverWell is doing in Migraine research & the gut brain. An intriguing possibility is beginning to develop. The growing evidence supporting our long term belief that Migraine is a brain disorder coupled with the work showing a second brain in the gut might cause some to look at proper neuropeptide/neurotransmitter production by the digestive system as a root cause of the factors leading to Migraine.

One company doing just that has recently published an outcome based study in which they focus primarily on healing and improving digestive dysfunction that they believe on some level is occurring in most Migraine sufferers. Synergistically, they provide nutritional support to the liver and kidney believing that these organs are critical in balancing internal function.

This natural Migraine prevention approach has shown very positive results in their initial study. Interestingly, some of the comments from study participants included that while on the nutritional supplements they found that the Migraines they did get were less severe and a lower dose of various pain treatments seemed to be more effective.

80% of the 40 study participants reported good to dramatic benefit from this approach. 20% had no benefit. In 60% of the cases the participants quality of life rating was in the 80 to 100 range indicating a virtually Migraine free condition. To learn more about Gut Brain Therapy™ and to read the entire study visit, www.foreverwell.com.

Michael Gershon, MD of Columbia University is the recognized father of the growing field of neurogastroenterology and author of The Second Brain. His book is fascinating and may explain why ForeverWell is getting great results with Migraine by focusing on the digestive system. For a FREE, chapter by chapter, description of the book you can send an email request to [e-mail].

There is a book called The Second Brain by Michael Gershon, MD. He is at Columbia University in New York and seems to be the leading authority in neurogastroenterology. The book is quite fascinating and perhaps does explain why ForeverWell has been getting great results with Migraine by treating the gut.


Second, trigger management is important in preventing Migraine attacks. Triggering factors can cause Migraine, and if recognized and/or avoided, may impede an impending attack. Triggers vary from person to person.

Examples of what ARE triggers include changes in weather or air-pressure, bright sunlight, glare, fluorescent lights, chemical fumes, menstrual cycles, and certain foods such as processed meats, red wine, beer, dried fish, broad beans, fermented cheeses, aspartame, and MSG.

Examples of what ARE NOT triggers include lifestyle, stress, anxiety, worry, emotion, excitement, depressions, and caffeine. Unlike many articles mistakenly state, caffeine, which constricts blood vessels, is not a trigger, and, in fact, may help relieve mild Migraine pain caused by vasodilatation.

Third, attack-aborting medications are used to relieve the severity and/or duration of Migraine and associated symptoms. In general, most attack-aborting medication should be taken as early as possible in an attack. Many Migraineurs learn to recognize their prodrome, others can use their aura as early warning systems to implement their abortive treatment of choice for an early intervention approach, many times avoiding a severe painful prolonged attacked.

Certain cerebral vasoconstrictor abortive agents are designed specifically for Migraine. They may be administered by subcutaneous, oral, rectal, or intramuscular means. These medications include ergotamine tartrate, dihydroergotamine (Migranal®, DHE45®), sumatriptan (Imitrex®), naratriptan (Amerge®), rizatriptan (Maxalt®), zolmitripan (Zomig®), Electriptan (Relpax®), frovatriptan (FROVA®) and isometheptene mucate (Midrin®). Maxalt® and Zomig® both come in a melting tablet version you can take with out water, which is very convenient for early intervention for a oncoming severe attack when you may not be able to make it to a restroom. Such as air travel or perhaps a class or meeting. Even more refined 'triptans' are under development as well. Click here for more detailed information.

An excellent non-vasoconstrictive abortive agent is butorphanol tartrate (Stadol NS®) offered in patient administered injection and now a nasal spray. In an ER (Emergency Room) environment narcotic injections, usually taken with promenthazine (Phenergan®) or hydroxyzine (Vistril®) for nausea, can offer a non-cerebral vasoconstrictive option if all the above fail or are not appropriate (such as heart disease of other limiting medical condition). Click here for more detailed information.

Fourth and last, general pain management may include the prescription of narcotic analgesics which act on the central nervous system and alter the patient's perception of pain. These drugs generally relieve pain. However, because they are narcotic, they may be addictive, and such usage should be done in an appropriate manner to return a reasonable quality of life for the intractable Migraine sufferer. These medications include Fiorinal® with codeine, codeine, Percodan®, Demerol®, Tylox®, or methadone to name a few of the most well known. Click here for more detailed information and a complete list.

In addition, there are some strong non-narcotic analgesics that are very effective too, such as Midrin® or Fiorinal®. Click here for more information and a more detailed list.

NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) act by inhibiting blood vessel inflammation. NSAIDs are not specific, do not treat associated Migraine symptoms, and can cause gastrointestinal disturbances. These medications include naproxen, ibuprofen and ketorolac. You will notice that some of these over the counter NSAIDs have been repackaged to target our disease demographic such as Advil Migraine®, although these NSAIDs may look like a new Migraine OTC, but they are not, but are rather an effective OTC treatment for use with mild to mild-to-moderate Migraines for some Migraineurs. But we might suggest if do you find sufficient relief with these OTC drugs, please still advise your attending physician or Migraine specialists of the addition to these treatments to whatever you are currently prescribed. Always keep your doctor advised any self-modifications to the regime the two of you have decided to use to manage your Migraines.

Best of Luck,
Kimberly, RRT and Long time Migraine Sufferer

Answer 2

there's only one hope for depression. That is an effective anti depressant medication. Depression comes from a checmical imbalance in the neurotransmitters and the brain and nothing in the world will alleviate unless you compensate for it. The right medication will do it. When you're depressed, you're unable to interact with a therapist by talking or be with or around anyone so talk therapy won't work. Being around people is a waste because the loss of interest makes it difficult to tolerate company and again, verbal interaction. You will have no desire for pets or taking care of animals as it's too labor intensive, too complex and your mind can't handle it. Excercise requires motivation which you have none. Until you can compensate for the chemical imbalance that's causing the depression and anxiety, none of these suggestions are useful.. Once you regain your sense of motivation and desire to do things, only then can any interaction or activity possibly help feel good.. There are ssri's, snri's mao inhibitors and trycyclic anti depressants. Some work better than others depending on the individdual. It is frustrating until you find one that works well with tolerable side effects. If none of these are ever an option, try ect (shock therapy)l

Answer 3

I do have migraine for last 7 years. I was advice by doctor to stop eating peanuts or any other type of nuts.Check weight if you are overweight you may have problem too.Please observer what ever food you always eat try notice is that causing you have Migraine Attack or try having proper sleep and also test your eyes and get you, yourself glass, advice your eyes specalist that your alway having migraine he provide small power glass which help you relive the pain. At the moment I use a glass I have less problem of migraine.

Answer 4

Suffered since childhood and still do: First off, see a neurologist if the headaches come often. Neurologists can prescribe preventative drugs and ameliorative meds. In the meantime: Ice coffee, ice packs on your head, tea tree oil shampoo to get a tingle going on your scalp; vomiting does reduce intra-cranial pressure, which is what a cold pack on the head and caffeine does; an orgasm will do the same thing; lay down in the dark; if you have a deep pressure massager you can apply that to your head and neck, it sometimes floods you head with blood and ameliorates the pain from just one section having dilated blood vessels; get someone to give you a deep tissue massage of your shoulders, neck and head--same principle. Whatever you do, no matter how much you're tempted, don't cut your head off.

Answer 5

Perhaps some relaxation. have time on you're own to relax. some migraines are caused by stress and you're enviorment. You might want to look at you're diet, there are foods that can help you get rid of migraines too. do some research about that. My abuelita decia to put you're head in ICE water for a minute. but that really does not help. buena suerte!!

Answer 6

Avoid caffeine, nicotine and MSG. Apparently, these are the causes of 90 percent of headaches and migraines. MSG is in *all* prepared foods (canned, bagged, wrapped, boxed, etc.), fast food, most restaurant foods, and junk food, *unless* the label specifically says that the product contains no MSG. Even then MSG does not have to be listed if the MSG is a component of an ingredient on the label.

Answer 7

You could try a natural product as it has no side effects. PastTense®, dōTERRA®'s proprietary blend for tension and the discomforts associated with headaches, provides calming comfort with the strength of CPTG® essential oils of wintergreen, lavender, peppermint, frankincense, cilantro, marjoram, roman chamomile, basil, and rosemary. Packaged for convenient application in a roll-on bottle. For aromatic and topical use.

I use it as well as my husbands and both our kids and it works instantly. You apply it to your temples, across your forehead and along the back of your neck. It absorbs and leaves no residue. It is all essential oils that are pure and high quality. You can use this anywhere and without the need of any water to wash anything down...just roll on skin and go! Best of luck!

Answer 8

I get about three of them a year - if I can get to it before I get nauseous I will jump in the shower. Hot on the back of the neck and then switch to cold, I will repeat these steps for as long as I can tolerate and then I get into a big robe and a towel on my head and take a nap. Still usually takes me a couple of hours.

If I am stuck out in public I am just usually stuck and internally crabby till I can get to a bed and sleep. Not much help there but nothing works but my showers for me.

Answer 9

I have some meds for migraines, but its just a lot of Asprin mixed with tylenol from what I can see.

Answer 10

as the real reason for the migraine is not physical but mental you have to find out what causes your migraine, is it stress , your job something that you don't like to do it but you even don't know it yourself? if you find that you can get rid of Migraine for ever, but other then this, the Best way is acupuncture, old Chinese treatment, it helps definitely.

Answer 11

ok well first use aleve its the best that worsk for me and i get major migrains the ones that make u sick to your stomach (but cant barf) the ones that you cant move with out your head feel like a sledge hammer is pounding you in the forehead anyway i take aleve and lay down and relax for about a half hour to an hour and my migraine will be completely gone