Any advice on how to treat migraines besides daily "prevention" medication?

Question

I sometimes get *horrible* migrains (pass out from pain, severe vomiting, etc) and have narrowed it down to that peanut products mostly trigger them, but sometimes I get them anyway. Any advice on over-the-counter medicines or home remidies? I've heard some odd remidies and wondered what you all think?

Answer 1

Caffeine will help constrict the vessels in the head. Migraines are vascular headaches in which the cerebral vessels dilate. There are more and more preventive type medicines on the market so switching might help but in the throws of such a horrible headache, opiates work like Demerol, Morphine,and possibly Vicodin. Headaches relieved by over the counter products are probably not vascular in nature. In other words, if a patient claims that his headache is cured by Tylenol or other over the counter medications, the diagnosis of tension headache will probably prevail. I hope you feel better soon and not have to suffer with them.

Answer 2

As a healthcare provider I have a few questions? What have you tried? What worked and what didn't? There are medications that are given at the first sign of a migraine, such as Imitrex or Relpax. And there are drugs to prevent occurance which are taken daily like Topamax, Limictal, Inderal. What have you tried? What made you stop? Have you been seen by a neurologist?See your healthcare provider with the answers to these question.Migraines are very painful and debilitating. Let us help you lead a good life without suffering anymore than is necessary.

Answer 3

#1 drink about 1/2 gallon of water per day - the head of neurorology at UCDavis (about 10 years ago) likened a car low on oil to a body low on water (engine siezing up).
#2 Daily muscle relaxer (1 or 2 swigs of molasses or 1 or 2 bananas) they contain magnesium and potassium.
#3 Massage therapy - professional or read The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook by Davies (it teaches you how). The principle that causes the headaches regardless of how severe is that muscles get knots (trigger points), which make the muscles stay tight, which press on nerves.
Your back, shoulders, neck and everywhere on your head will definitely play into the cause and it will take a while to get all the trigger points to go away.

Answer 4

I have had a couple of "whoppers" like that, and had to go to Urgent Care for them. When I talked to my doctor about it, he prescribed Zomig. It worked like a charm for me. I took one at the outset of a migraine and was better in half an hour. Perhaps you could talk to your doctor about it.

Answer 5

Hi,
Have you heard of Goji Juice, In traditional Chinese medicine, headache and dizziness are often said to be caused by deficiencies in kidney yin (vital essence) and yang (function), Goji is among the most frequently used herbs for restoring yin/yang balance. [e-mail]

Answer 6

i too suffer from migraines...know what your aura is...when you get your aura then take Excedrin migraine or extra strength Tylenol...if you have access to it oxygen for 30 min. will get rid of the migraine in a hurry...

Answer 7

Rub camphor chapstick on forehead across head.
Put a flat rock in the freezer, get it cool and place on forehead.

Answer 8

If you have long, heavy hair, cut it. My Mom and Sis both had terrible headaches until they cut their hair. Just an idea. Peace to you.

Answer 9

i use excedrine migrane right when I feel it coming on. It helps always.

Answer 10

sleep