The treatment for persistent migraines can be either acute or preventative in nature. There are a wide variety of pharmacological, complementary, and alternative treatments that could potentially provide assistance.
A migraine is considered chronic if it happens 15 days or more per month for three months. At least eight of these days will bring on headaches that are quite similar to migraine attacks.
The migraine will last for at least four hours and could last for up to seventy-two hours; the pain will range from mild to severe. There is also a possibility that you will experience nausea as well as sensitivity to light and sound.
Acute treatment is intended to provide immediate relief from the symptoms of a migraine, whereas preventive medicine is aimed at preventing a migraine from forming in the first place. Complementary treatments and therapies are available to help manage comorbid disorders, in addition to acute and/or preventative treatments for chronic migraines.
Efficient short-term therapies for chronic migraine
Acute treatments are those that are administered as soon as the first symptoms of a migraine are seen. These medications are not effective in preventing migraines; however, they may provide pain relief during an attack. The majority of these medications should be taken as soon as possible after the onset of headache symptoms for optimal effectiveness.
The following medications are the ones that are most frequently recommended for the treatment of acute conditions:
- pain relievers such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs), sometimes known as analgesics.
- dopamine receptor blockers
- ergotamines
- ubrogepant and rimegepant
- triptans, which can be administered in the form of pills, injections, or nasal spray; and dihydroergotamine, which can be administered in the form of nasal spray, injections, or intravenous treatment
Reyvow operates in a manner that is distinct from the other drugs in this category. It prevents migraine attacks before they even start by acting on serotonin receptors that are located on the nerve endings of the brain. Because this drug can cause sedation, it is not recommended that you drive for up to eight hours after taking it.
There is a possibility that newer migraine therapies, such as triptans and antidepressants, have fewer adverse effects. People who have other medical concerns, such as a history of heart disease, stroke, or vascular illnesses, do not run the risk of experiencing any adverse effects from using them.
Depression medication and migraines
Migraine sufferers are prone to experiencing depression and anxiety. A higher likelihood that episodic migraine would develop into chronic migraine has been connected to increased depression, according to research from a reliable source. Migraine patients who also suffer from depression or anxiety should be evaluated and treated accordingly.
It has been shown that antidepressants can be used to effectively treat both depression and migraines. SNRIs (serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors) have shown success in treating patients suffering from both migraines and depression. However, the authors noted that more studies are needed to determine whether or not SSRIs are effective in treating migraines and depression in the general population.
Methods for preventing chronic migraine attacks
Medications prescribed to patients suffering from chronic migraines are designed to prevent headaches from happening in the first place. In most cases, this course of treatment is considered when a patient’s headaches last longer than four days per month and come with other serious side effects, like incapacitating auras. In addition, the patient must have a history of migraines.
Alternate methods of relieving chronic migraine
Medications prescribed to patients suffering from chronic migraines are designed to prevent headaches from happening in the first place. In most cases, this course of treatment is considered when a patient’s headaches last longer than four days per month and come with other serious side effects, like incapacitating auras. In addition, the patient must have a history of migraines.
Chronic migraine sufferers can get relief from their pain and other symptoms by receiving acute treatment as well as preventative care to cut down on the frequency and severity of their migraine attacks. Even though chronic migraine is not harmful, the condition is important because of its disruptive and frequently incapacitating character.
You might want to keep a migraine notebook to keep track of the frequency and severity of your migraines, as well as the symptoms you experience and the drugs that work or don’t work for you. Your doctor will be able to better determine the appropriate treatment with this information.