| Many chronic migraine sufferers resort to taking | | | | significant decrease in the frequency and intensity of |
| prescription medicines named triptans when a | | | | migraines should occur. |
| migraine gets out of control. These medicines are | | | | It is very interesting just how "convoluted" the use |
| used "acutely". This means you take them when you | | | | of some prescription medicines to treat the pain of |
| already have a migraine you want to stop. These | | | | migraines really is. One of the many theories as to |
| drugs do not prevent migraines from occurring. | | | | why migraines happen is that blood platelets tend to |
| In fact, not only do they not prevent migraines, the | | | | aggregate (clump) more in chronic migraineurs. These |
| general consensus amongst researchers and clinicians | | | | platelets also happen to release serotonin when they |
| is that on-going regular use of triptan drugs like | | | | aggregate and serotonin is vasocontrictive (is causes |
| Imitrex or Zomig actually increase the total number | | | | arteries to constrict). Well it seems in migraineurs, |
| of migraines that many users of the drugs have. This | | | | when the brain senses this "vasonconstriction", it |
| phenomenon is known as "Rebound Headache." | | | | over reacts and the arteries expand open too much |
| Some readers of this article may recognize this | | | | and too quickly, releasing pain causing chemicals, that |
| pattern in their own lives. A migraine develops that | | | | negatively affect certain nerves and the sufferer is |
| won't go away and one of these drugs is | | | | on her or his way to yet another migraine. So what |
| administered. The current migraine either goes away | | | | do the prescription drugs called triptans do: They |
| or decreases in intensity to the point where it is | | | | essentially cause serotonin to constrict the arteries |
| manageable but a day or two later, another migraine | | | | again so that they are not over-expanded. (Isn't this |
| occurs. "The Rebound Headache". | | | | where the problem started?). Sometimes these drugs |
| If users are not careful this can lead to increasing | | | | work very well for certain sufferers and sometimes |
| drug use and a cycle of reoccurring migraines. This | | | | users find that after immediate relief, they often |
| rebound cycle occurs not only with triptan drugs but | | | | develop a rebound headache. |
| with caffeine containing over the counter medicines | | | | So it would seem that anything that tends to keep |
| like Excedrin. Caffeine can help reduce the pain of | | | | the arteries stable, not overly constricted or |
| headaches and migraines in some sufferers. But | | | | expanded would be of help. This is one of the |
| unfortunately it is caffeine that causes many | | | | reasons that certain (not all) forms of feverfew and |
| headaches and contributes to the development of | | | | magnesium work well for migraine prevention. One of |
| migraines in many, if not most sufferers. In fact, | | | | feverfew's actions is to prevent platelet aggregation |
| several well known neurologists who specialize in | | | | and reduce the risk of excessive serotonin release |
| treating migraine sufferers have stated that one of | | | | leading to excessive vasocontriction. The magnesium |
| the most powerful ways to reduce the number of | | | | helps to prevent spasms of the arteries and keeps |
| migraines that sufferers experience is to remove | | | | them relaxed. Another spice, ginger also has an |
| caffeine from their diets. Unfortunately, this is easier | | | | anti-platelet and possible anti-inflammatory mechanism |
| said than done, because caffeine is addictive and | | | | and may be beneficial if consumed in about a gram a |
| many sufferers when attempting to ween off of it | | | | day. |
| actually go through withdrawal like symptoms and | | | | The above information highlights why preventing |
| experience a temporary, short increase in their | | | | migraines as opposed to treating the symptoms is a |
| headaches or migraines. Fortunately, this will last only | | | | much safer and desirable short and long term choice |
| a short time, perhaps several days and then a | | | | in dealing with the effect of migraines on your life. |