Migraine Treatment, Causes, Types, Symptoms, Medication And Facts

Migraine sufferers may be forgiven for mouthing the words “promises, promises” when reports of yet another promising new drug to treat their condition crop up in the news. Perhaps what is most promising about the new medication is that it works in an entirely novel way to alleviate migraine symptoms. Not only that, two thirds of the test subjects who were given the drug experienced some kind of pain relief due to its effects.

Current versus New
The current drug family of choice for treating migraines is the triptans. The new medication will be targeted, at least initially, to patients who don’t respond to triptans or who don’t tolerate triptan-based therapy for one reason or another.
For the time being the new medication will go by the name MK-0974. Researchers anticipate that upwards of 30 per cent of migraine sufferers may be helped by the drug–perhaps even more if it proves to be more effective than nay other medication.

This type of drug is called and investigational oral calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonist. Peptides have long been suspected of playing a significant role in migraine episodes.
The experimental drug relieved moderate-to-severe migraine attacks, including migraine pain and migraine-associated symptoms, compared to a placebo.

What is even more promising is that adverse effects in the trial were similar between the drug and a placebo. These data were presented at the European Headache and Migraine Trust International Congress in London. Comprehensive testing has not been finalized.

What “peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonist” means is that the drug blocks CGRP. If CGRP is blocked the usual pain that accompanies the release of the neuropeptide doesn’t occur or is much less severe.

By contrast triptans utilize an entirely different brain chemical called serotonin to alleviate migraine symptoms. The net effect of triptan administration is that blood vessels are constricted. Constricting blood vessels during a migraine episode helps to minimize migraine symptoms–in particular the headache that can make a migraine a close to intolerable experience.

One of the problems with triptans, however, is that they are contraindicated for patients with heart trouble or other related circulatory diseases. This is owing to the constricting effect of triptans on the blood vessels.
Another advantage of the new drug is that early trials seem to indicate that it has “a very good duration of action” according to one researcher. In studies that compared it to a triptan based medication 50 per cent of patients who took MK-0974 reported being pain-free for two hours, compared with only 33 per cent of those who took the triptan-based drug.

Over the course of 24 hours an impressive 40 per cent of patients who took the new drug remained pain free while only about 20 per cent of patients given the older medication could claim to be free of migraine pain.
More tests need to be done. In the past promising migraine treatments have been shelved when experiments indicated that other parts of the body, such as the liver, were affected adversely by the drugs being tested.
It is to be hoped that eventually some, or at least some more, migraine sufferers may find relief thanks to ongoing research.

Once you submit to a healthcare professional for treatment of your migraine headaches they will probably mention that there are two approaches to treatment that are commonly taken: abortive and preventive.

The Abortive Approach
It may be a little confusing to describe an abortive approach to treatment as an effort to either prevent a migraine from occurring or an effort to stop a migraine once it has started. The “once it has started” part makes more sense. One should remember or note however that the prodrome phase of a migraine basically provides a feeling that the more dramatic latter stages of a migraine are about to occur. Treating the patient with the medications listed below can sometimes stave off the occurrence of the other migraine phases.

Medications can include the triptans that use serotonin activities and constriction of blood vessels for relief. They are effective only for headache and don’t address back pain, arthritic conditions or menstruation issues.

Non-triptan medications can also affect serotonin and other brain chemicals. They have been known to provide relief when triptan can’t. Drugs used to combat nausea may also alleviate headaches. Weak narcotics have been used for relief of migraine symptoms, but along with relief they bring the possibility of addiction. They are best employed on an emergency basis when other medications have proven to be ineffective.

The Preventive Approach
If a migraine sufferer experiences more than one episode a week a truly preventive approach should be tried. The object of this course of treatment is lessening the frequency and intensity the migraines that may occur. Daily consumption of medication sets preventive approaches apart from abortive approaches. Patients need not be symptomatic at all when medication is taken.

Preventive treatment medications can include high blood pressure medication, beta-blockers, antidepressants, anti-seizure medications, certain antihistamines and anti-allergy drugs.

Non-drug Approaches
• Avoid self medicating with substances that have not been sanctioned by your doctor.
• Reduce or eliminate the causes of emotional stress. Investigate and utilize relaxation techniques like breathing exercises and muscle relaxation methods.
• Treat your body better by ensuring that you get adequate amounts of sleep.
• Try stretching more frequently if your occupation or routines are sedentary.
• Exercise on a regular basis. An absolute minimum for a healthy person who has consulted with their doctor would be 20 to 30 minutes of vigorous exercise at least three times a week.
• Stick to routines; especially those that involve eating and sleeping. Try to schedule meals around the same time every day.
• If you smoke, you should give it up. Your physician will likely be glad to help you in this.
• Try reducing or eliminating caffeine and see how it affects your migraines.
• Pay attention to what seems to trigger your migraines. Take notes and seriously consider keeping a diary.
• Pay attention to your body. Women in particular may be able to predict at least some of their migraine based on their menstrual cycles and possibly take medications designed to prevent migraine occurrences if advised by their doctors to do so.