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Suggest Treatment For Persistent Migraine

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Posted on Tue, 20 Dec 2016
Question: What to do when RX Migraine medications do not work?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Nagamani N.G (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Preventive measures.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

Welcome to Healthcaremagic,

There are no full curative medicines for migraine . To completely cure the migraine.

There are 2 type of treatment.

Before describing the medicines in details but i would tell you it is very important to identify the triggering factor for the migraine and avoid it completely.

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.

Preventive medications. These types of drugs are taken regularly, often on a daily basis, to reduce the severity or frequency of migraines.

Your treatment strategy depends on the frequency and severity of your headaches, the degree of disability your headaches cause, and your other medical conditions.
Pain-relieving medications

Take pain-relieving drugs as soon as you experience signs or symptoms of a migraine for the best results. It may help if you rest or sleep in a dark room after taking them. Medications include:

Pain relievers. Aspirin or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) may help relieve mild migraines.

Acetaminophen (Tylenol, others), also may help relieve mild migraines in some people.

Triptans. These medications are often used in treating migraines. Triptans make blood vessels constrict and block pain pathways in the brain.
Ergots.
Anti-nausea medications.
Opioid medications.

Preventive medications

You may be a candidate for preventive therapy if:

You have four or more debilitating attacks a month
If attacks last more than 12 hours
If pain-relieving medications aren't helping
If your migraine signs and symptoms include a prolonged aura or numbness and weakness

Cardiovascular drugs. Beta blockers,
Antidepressants. Tricyclic antidepressants
Anti-seizure drugs. Some anti-seizure drugs, such as valproate (Depacon) and topiramate (Topamax), seem to reduce the frequency of migraines.
OnabotulinumtoxinA (Botox). OnabotulinumtoxinA (Botox) has been shown to be helpful in treating chronic migraines in adults.
Pain relievers. Taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, especially naproxen (Naprosyn), may help prevent migraines and reduce symptoms.

And coming to the medicines you can ask your doctor to add sumatriptine along with naproxin which can give better relief.


Any query do follow up.

Take care.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Nagamani N.G (13 minutes later)
I am already taking naproxine and sumatriptine which do not work at all. All migraines are random not triggered by stress or lack of sleep or eating etc. My first time ever having a migraine was august 4th 2015 . It was debilitating since then i have headaches daily with forgetfulness and fatigue and have had about 6 mild migraines . Should i request a CT scan to see if they can pinpoint a possible cause ?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Nagamani N.G (6 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Could help you.

Detailed Answer:
Hi,

Once again thanks for the follow up,

If the medicines are not at all helping you then you can ask your doctor for getting an CT or MRI of the head to rule out any other condition. If no pathology found then other prophylactic medicines could be recommended.

All the best.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng
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Answered by
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Dr. Dr. Nagamani N.G

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :2010

Answered : 1116 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Persistent Migraine

Brief Answer: Preventive measures. Detailed Answer: Hello, Welcome to Healthcaremagic, There are no full curative medicines for migraine . To completely cure the migraine. There are 2 type of treatment. Before describing the medicines in details but i would tell you it is very important to identify the triggering factor for the migraine and avoid it completely. 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. Preventive medications. These types of drugs are taken regularly, often on a daily basis, to reduce the severity or frequency of migraines. Your treatment strategy depends on the frequency and severity of your headaches, the degree of disability your headaches cause, and your other medical conditions. Pain-relieving medications Take pain-relieving drugs as soon as you experience signs or symptoms of a migraine for the best results. It may help if you rest or sleep in a dark room after taking them. Medications include: Pain relievers. Aspirin or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) may help relieve mild migraines. Acetaminophen (Tylenol, others), also may help relieve mild migraines in some people. Triptans. These medications are often used in treating migraines. Triptans make blood vessels constrict and block pain pathways in the brain. Ergots. Anti-nausea medications. Opioid medications. Preventive medications You may be a candidate for preventive therapy if: You have four or more debilitating attacks a month If attacks last more than 12 hours If pain-relieving medications aren't helping If your migraine signs and symptoms include a prolonged aura or numbness and weakness Cardiovascular drugs. Beta blockers, Antidepressants. Tricyclic antidepressants Anti-seizure drugs. Some anti-seizure drugs, such as valproate (Depacon) and topiramate (Topamax), seem to reduce the frequency of migraines. OnabotulinumtoxinA (Botox). OnabotulinumtoxinA (Botox) has been shown to be helpful in treating chronic migraines in adults. Pain relievers. Taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, especially naproxen (Naprosyn), may help prevent migraines and reduce symptoms. And coming to the medicines you can ask your doctor to add sumatriptine along with naproxin which can give better relief. Any query do follow up. Take care.