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Conventional Treatments of Migraine Headaches

Medical Treatment for Migraine headaches mainly takes a dual approach; abortive and preventive. Treatment for Migraine headaches are geared at reducing pain levels as well as the prevention of further migraine attacks.

A variety of drugs have been specifically designed to treat migraines. In addition, some drugs commonly used to treat other conditions also may help relieve or prevent migraines.  Medications used to combat migraines fall into two broad categories:

• Pain-relieving medications. Also known as acute or abortive treatment, these types of drugs are taken during migraine attacks and are designed to stop symptoms that have already begun.
• Preventive medications. These types of drugs are taken regularly, often on a daily basis, to reduce the severity or frequency of migraines.

Managing migraines depends on the frequency and severity of headaches, the degree of disability of the headaches, and the patient’s other medical conditions. The patient may be a candidate for preventive therapy if they have two or more debilitating attacks a month, if they use pain-relieving medications more than twice a week, if pain-relieving medications aren't helping, or if migraine signs and symptoms include a prolonged aura or numbness and impaired movement on one side of your body.

Some medications aren't recommended if you're pregnant or breast-feeding. Some aren't used for children. Your doctor can help find the right medication for you.

Pain-relieving medications - For best results, take pain-relieving drugs as soon as you experience signs or symptoms of a migraine. It may help if you rest or sleep in a dark room after taking them:

• Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These medications, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) or aspirin, may help relieve mild migraines. Drugs marketed specifically for migraine, such as the combination of acetaminophen, aspirin and caffeine (Excedrin Migraine), also may ease moderate migraines, but aren't effective alone for severe migraines. If over-the-counter medications don't help, your doctor may suggest a stronger, prescription-only version of the same drug. If taken too often or for long periods of time, NSAIDs can lead to ulcers, gastrointestinal bleeding and rebound headaches.
• Triptans - For many people with severe migraine attacks, triptans are the drug of choice. They are effective in relieving the pain, nausea and sensitivity to light and sound that are associated with migraines. Sumatriptan (Imitrex) was the first drug specifically developed to treat migraines. Related medications include rizatriptan (Maxalt), naratriptan (Amerge), zolmitriptan (Zomig), almotriptan (Axert), frovatriptan (Frova) and eletriptan (Relpax). Side effects of triptans include nausea, dizziness, muscle weakness and, rarely, stroke and heart attack. In recent studies, a single-tablet combination of sumatriptan and naproxen sodium relieved migraine symptoms more effectively than did either individual medication. This combination tablet will likely be marketed soon.
• Ergots - Ergotamine (Ergomar) has been in use for more than 60 years and was a common prescription for migraine before triptans were introduced. Ergotamine is much less expensive, but also less effective, than triptans. Dihydroergotamine is an ergot derivative that is more effective and has fewer side effects than ergotamine.
• Anti-nausea medications - Since migraine attacks are often accompanied by nausea with or without vomiting, medication for treatment of these symptoms is appropriate and is usually combined with other medications. Frequently prescribed medications are metoclopramide (oral) or prochlorperazine (oral or rectal suppository).
• Butalbital combinations - Medications that combine the sedative butalbital with aspirin or acetaminophen are sometimes used to treat migraine attacks. Some combinations also include caffeine or codeine. These medications, however, have a high risk of rebound headaches and withdrawal symptoms and accordingly should be used infrequently.
• Opiates - Medications containing narcotics, particularly codeine, are sometimes used to treat migraine pain when people can't take triptans or ergots. These drugs are habit-forming and are usually used only as a last resort.

The preventive type of treatment for Migraine headaches is used for conditions where the headache is common in more than once per week. The use of these medicines is to lessen the frequency and severity of the attacks. Medicines that prevent a Migraine headache can be taken on a daily basis. Some preventive medications include:

• Cardiovascular drugs. Beta blockers — which are commonly used to treat high blood pressure and coronary artery disease — can reduce the frequency and severity of migraines. These drugs are considered among first-line treatment agents. Calcium channel blockers, another class of cardiovascular drugs, especially verapamil (Calan, Isoptin), also may be helpful. In addition, the antihypertensive medications lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril) and candesartan (Atacand) are useful migraine prevention medications. Researchers don't understand exactly why all of these cardiovascular drugs prevent migraines. Side effects can include dizziness, drowsiness or lightheadedness.
• Antidepressants - Certain antidepressants are good at helping prevent all types of headaches, including migraines. Most effective are tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline, nortriptyline (Pamelor) and protriptyline (Vivactil). These medications are considered among first-line treatment agents and may reduce migraines by affecting the level of serotonin and other brain chemicals. You don't have to have depression to benefit from these drugs. Newer antidepressants, however, generally aren't as effective for migraine prevention.
• Anti-seizure drugs - Although the reason is unclear, some anti-seizure drugs, such as divalproex sodium (Depakote) and topiramate (Topamax), which are used to treat epilepsy and bipolar disease, seem to prevent migraines. Gabapentin (Neurontin), another anti-seizure medication, is considered a second-line treatment agent. In high doses, however, these anti-seizure drugs may cause side effects, such as nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, cramps, hair loss and dizziness.
• Cyproheptadine - This antihistamine specifically affects serotonin activity. Doctors sometimes give it to children as a preventive measure.
• Botulinum toxin type A (Botox) - Some people receiving Botox injections for their facial wrinkles have noted improvement of their headaches. The mechanism by which Botox might prevent migraines is unclear, although the drug may cause changes in your nervous system that modify your tendency to develop migraines. Studies using Botox injections for migraines have had mixed results. Additional research is necessary. Still, if several other preventive medications have failed to control your headaches, you might talk to your doctor about trying Botox.

Patients Medical Migraine Headache Treatment

When you enter the world of Patients Medical, it is our goal to treat not only the problem you have but also provide you with a healthy life style. All our tests and holistic methods of healing are geared towards the individual patient. Our doctors combine the best of modern research allied with holistic methods to give you a complete treatment.

Patients Medical treats Migraine headaches with ‘hyperbaric oxygen therapy’, HBOT, which has also received FDA approval.  At our Hyperbaric Center, HBOT is administered to the patient in conjunction with supplement intravenous therapy. The success of this HBO treatment has been established in the 90% of our patients who have experienced almost total relief from the pain of Migraine headaches when treated under this protocol.

The reason for the success in treating Migraines is because migraine headaches involve blood vessel dilation in the head, and hyperbaric oxygen causes vessels to constrict, which helps to explain the pain reduction. There is also evidence that hyperbaric oxygen blocks the "chemical pathways" that lead people to feel migraine pain.

Added to this we also have our own indigenous range of natural treatments for migraine and tension headaches.

Supplements Used for Migraine Headaches

5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) - is an amino acid. The body makes 5-HTP from tryptophan (an essential amino acid) and converts it to an important brain chemical known as serotonin. Tryptophan and 5-HTP dietary supplements help raise serotonin levels in the brain, which may have a positive effect on sleep, mood, anxiety, aggression, appetite, temperature, sexual behavior, and pain sensation.

Flaxseed - Flaxseed or linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) - is derived from the flax plant, an annual herb believed to have originated in Egypt.  Flaxseed and flaxseed oil are rich in alpha-linolenic acid (ALA).  ALA belongs to a group of substances called omega-3 fatty acids. It is important to maintain an appropriate balance of omega-3 and omega-6 (another essential fatty acid) in the diet, as these two substances work together to promote health. Mackerel, salmon, and walnuts are also good omega-3 fatty acid sources. Omega-3 fatty acids help reduce inflammation and most omega-6 fatty acids tend to promote inflammation.  Although further research is needed, preliminary evidence suggests that omega-3 fatty acids may also prove helpful in protecting against certain infections and treating a variety of conditions including ulcers, migraine headaches, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, addiction, eating disorders, preterm labor, emphysema, psoriasis, glaucoma, Lyme disease, lupus, and panic attacks.

Jamaica dogwood - Jamaica dogwood ( Piscidia erythrina  or Piscidia piscipula ) is best known as a traditional remedy for treating neuralgia (severe, stabbing nerve pain), migraine, insomnia, anxiety, fear, and nervous tension. As early as 1844, Western scientists discovered that Jamaica dogwood had pain-relieving and sweat-promoting properties. The Eclectic physicians of the late 1800s in the United States routinely used Jamaican dogwood extracts for nervous conditions and pain. More recent scientific studies have also revealed that bark extracts of this plant have anti-inflammatory, sedative, and anti-spasmodic (helps relieve smooth muscle spasms along the digestive tract).

Magnesium - Magnesium levels tend to be lower in those with migraine headaches, including children and teenagers, when compared to those with tension headaches or no headaches at all. In addition, a few studies suggest that magnesium supplements may decrease the length of time that one suffers from a migraine and reduces the amount of medication needed.  Oral magnesium may be an appropriate alternative to prescription medication for people who suffer from migraine headaches.

Definitions of Various Terms

Vascular headache- A group of headaches that involve abnormal sensitivity of the blood vessels (arteries) in the brain triggering off results in rapid changes in the artery size due to spasm.

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