Migraines aren’t just regular headaches

They are debilitating. I should know because I suffer with them.

Classically they are one side of the head and can be associated with nausea and vomiting. Some people even develop neurological symptoms called Auras. As aura might be blurred vision or weakness of a specific muscle group for example.

Often, before the headache comes there is a prodromal phase which can include: yawning, fatigue, mood changes, light sensitivity and nausea.

They can last anything from 3 hrs to 3 days… that’s a lot of time to be out of action.

So what can you do to stop a migraine in its tracks?

1. As soon as you feel a migraine coming on, as in during the prodromal phase, take your painkiller. Don’t wait for the headache to take hold. This is because migraines also affect the gut. (That’s why they can cause nausea and vomiting) So, if you wait too long to take the painkiller, it is harder for it to be absorbed because the stomach may not be working as well.

2.Unless there is a reason you can’t take them, NSAIDS like Ibuprofen seem to work better than Acetaminophen or Paracetamol. Aspirin is not as good as NSAIDS but better than paracetamol.

3.You can ask your doctor to prescribe an anti-sickness drug called Metoclopramide which helps the stomach to keep working. It can even be helpful if you are not feeling nauseous. This helps the painkiller to be absorbed to work better There is even some evidence that taking this on its own without a painkiller can help a migraine.

4. Successful treatment means your Migraine should be gone in 2 hours and stay away for 24. If the above regimes are not working for you, you should talk to your doctor about whether a type of medication called a Triptan is appropriate for you. Please don’t try to get this over the counter as some people must not take them!

Look out for the Next article on Prevention of Migraines!