What is a Migraine and what’s different from a normal headache? A Migraine is a moderate to severe headache that is characterised by a throbbing, usually on the front or to one side of the head. This throbbing is very important as it usually the tell-tale sign that you have a migraine rather than a normal dull headache. Migraines affect...
Read MoreWhat is a Migraine and what’s different from a normal headache?
A Migraine is a moderate to severe headache that is characterised by a throbbing, usually on the front or to one side of the head. This throbbing is very important as it usually the tell-tale sign that you have a migraine rather than a normal dull headache.
Migraines affect up to 20% of women and 7% of men regularly. Once started, a migraine can persist for up to 72 hours and can be debilitating.
Types of Migraines and Symptoms
There are three main types of migraines:
1. Migraines with aura often referred to as a ‘classic migraine’. This type of migraine will cause visual disturbances, “aura” but can sometimes cause blurriness or colour disturbances. Most of the time, the “aura” comes before the headache and therefore using a triptan like Sumatriptan can prevent the headache from taking hold.
Aura Symptoms can include:
visual problems –seeing flashing lights, zig-zag patterns or blind spots
numbness or a tingling sensation like pins and needles
feeling dizzy or off balance
difficulty speaking
loss of consciousness
2. Migraine without aura – this is where there is no other warning, the headache is the main and first symptoms. Other symptoms may follow.
3. Migraine with aura but no development of a throbbing headache.
The main other symptoms associated with migraine are:
nausea
vomiting
increased sensitivity to light and sound – which is why many people with a migraine want to rest in a quiet, dark room
Occasionally patients may also experience:
sweating
poor concentration,
feeling very hot or very cold (flushes)
pain in the abdomen
diarrhoea
What can cause or trigger a migraine?
The exact cause of migraines is still poorly understood. What is known is that whatever does trigger it causes abnormal brain activity that affects nerves and neurotransmitters in the brain, specifically serotonin (5HT). This causes blood vessels in some areas of the brain to dilate (swell). It’s this swelling that causes the pain and nausea associated with migraines.
The abnormal brain activity mentioned above can be triggered by certain stimulators. The most common ones are:
stress and anxiety
lack of sleep or exhaustion
poor posture
Poor pain management of other conditions for example trapped nerves in the back
Overwhelming stimulation of the senses (e.g. extreme bad smells)
Foods such as red wine, strong cheese (tyramine rich)
Certain medicines
How long can migraines last?
Migraine headaches can vary in length but the most common range is between 4 hours to 3 days (72 hours). Severity of the symptoms is why specific migraine treatments are relevant. Pain killing drugs may not be able to manage the pain alone and once they wear off, the pain from the migraine headache can return.
What migraine treatments are available?
Some patients respond well to taking basic over the counter painkillers such as Ibuprofen, Aspirin or paracetamol. The NSAID type painkillers can be useful as there are inflammatory components to a migraine headache.
For severe migraines, or for patients that experience migraines more frequently than others, stronger 5HT-receptor agonist medicines (‘triptans’) such as Sumatriptan (Imigran) and Zolmitriptan (Zomig) are more appropriate. Unlike painkillers, triptans work to stop the root cause of the headache. They stop the process that causes dilation of the blood vessels in the brain and reverses the pain and the nausea that patients feel during an attack. In patients that suffer with particularly severe symptoms, triptan use can markedly increase their quality of life.
Which migraine treatment should I choose?
Each treatment has its own unique advantages and choice should be made mainly on how effective they are at treating your migraine. We recommend that you consult your GP if you are uncertain.
- Cheapest Treatment – Sumatriptan and Zolmitriptan
- Fastest acting – Zomig Nasal Spray and Imigran Nasal Spray and Rizatriptan / Maxalt
Keep a Headache Diary
Recording details of your migraine attacks can be useful for both you and those helping to treat you. A diary will help a prescriber choose a more informed treatment option for you, can help you recognise what triggers your migraines and can help assess whether a particular medicine is actually effective or not for you.
What to record:
It’s very important to also record lifestyle activities when an attack occurs:
It is often useful to note if you did anything different prior to the attack such as missing a meal or had a beer etc. The 6-8 hours before the migraine attack are particularly important to record.
Order in the next:
0
Recieve your order on the following days:
Thursday 31st Dec - Free Postage
By Wednesday 30th December with Royal Mail Special Delivery.
Disclaimer - Our delivery estimator does not take bank holidays into consideration, so your delivery may be delayed if it falls within a bank holiday period.
If you find exact treatment cheaper elsewhere, we will refund the difference.
Your medication will arrive in our discreet plain packaging, so only you will know what's inside.
With so many vaccines on offer now how can one know the difference between them all? In this article we will look at the diff...
READ MORE20
JanWith the new year looming news of a mutated form of the Coronavirus has hit the country. But what does a new strain mean and...
READ MORE23
DecSumatriptan is used to treat cluster headaches and migraines, though it's important to note that it does not prevent these he...
READ MORE07
DecOrlistat is used to help people lose weight. Your body breaks down the fat you eat with enzymes in your stomach and it is the...
READ MORE03
Dec