Chronic migraines can be downright disruptive to your daily life. It’s difficult to explain to people who don’t experience them just how hard it is to make it through your normal tasks with such intense, pounding headaches. As such, finding the treatment that works best for you is important. Here are some of the best treatments for migraines.
Best Treatments for Migraines
Preventative
Preventative treatments, such as medicines and therapies, are designed to stop migraines before they even start. Typically, preventative medication is prescribed to those who suffer from serious, chronic and debilitating migraines. That’s because these medications require daily doses and work only if taking consistently.
Another preventative treatment that some people have noted is getting a daith piercing. The daith is a part of the outer ear that is somewhat above the opening of the ear canal. Piercings in this location have been stated by some to help greatly reduce the number and severity of migraines. While it’s not a guarantee, some people swear by this preventative treatment.
Relief
There are a few medications available that are able to relieve pain for those who need immediate relief from migraines. Common NSAIDs, like Tylenol and Ibuprofen, are often taken for mild migraine symptoms. Those who suffer from mild or infrequent migraines often just keep a bottle of their preferred NSAID on hand in case of a sudden flare-up.
There are also pain relievers that are geared, specifically, toward migraines. These medications use a combination of acetaminophen, aspirin and caffeine, which are all useful in combating serious headaches. However, these are best when used in a dark room and when attempting to get to sleep. Nothing flares up migraines worse than bright lights and loud sounds.
Triptans
Triptans are medications that were designed specifically to combat extreme migraine symptoms. Triptans work primarily by constricting blood vessels and blocking the brain’s pain receptors. These are primarily taken by people who are experiencing infrequent but intense migraines.
Triptans are available in pill, injection and nasal spray varieties. Typically, people who want relief from extreme migraines but don’t get them often enough to merit full preventative regiments opt for triptans. Those at risk for heart attacks and strokes are urged to not take triptans.
Side effects of these medications can include muscle weakness, nausea, dizziness, drowsiness and skin reactions due to injection. While many other medications are available, these are of some of the most common, and relied upon, forms of relief available.