Migraine Treatment
An individual suffering from migraine headache can experience intense throbbing or a pulsing sensation in one area of the head and is commonly accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound. Migraine headaches typically last from can last for hours to days. Some migraines are accompanied by sensory warning symptoms, such as flashes of light, blind spots, or tingling in the arm or leg.
Medications can help reduce the frequency and severity of migraines. Talk to our team of doctors at Montreal International Clinic and find out what are the different medications available for migraine headaches. The right medication, combined with home remedies and lifestyle changes, can make a big difference for individuals suffering from migraine headaches.
There are three different levels of migraine treatment
- Preventative treatment
- Acute treatment
- Rescue treatment
- Preventative treatment
After a consultation with our doctors, they will help you identify and avoid trigger factors, and make lifestyle changes and prevent migraine headaches from developing. When headaches affect an individual badly, our doctor can prescribe a number of different preventative medications. Our doctor will also talk to you about the duration that preventative medication should be taken.
Prescription only medicines
The doctor can prescribe a number of stronger painkillers, and other medicines that may help to stop a migraine attack. Some drugs taken just before the onset of a migraine headache can help to reduce nausea and speed up the action of the painkiller. Many who suffer from severe migraines are treated with several types of medication, one drug does not work for all.
Rescue medication
There can be times when strong medication does not give enough relief, then the doctor may prescribe a different medication to use at these times. Rescue medication can be used if acute treatment does not work. Often times an antinausea medication, plus an anti-inflammatory or pain-relieving medication may be prescribed.
Side effects
All drugs have side effects and they can act in many places in the body as well as the intended place and this can lead to side effects. When prescribing medication, our doctors will talk to you about the possible side effects. Certain side effects wear out after some time.
Mechanical pain relief
Some patients can’t bear the pain, so they opt for mechanical techniques to relieve the pain of migraine attacks. Simple techniques include,
- Temperature – Both hot or cold will work. Use an ice pack, or a hot water bottle, for the head. A hot or a cold shower may help some sufferers, or soaking the hands and feet in hot or cold water.
- Pressure – Applying pressure to the pulse points on the side of the forehead or neck can relieve the headache.
Chiropractic techniques carried out by a registered practitioner may also help.
