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Types of Medications for Migraines
Narcotics
Morphine, Codeine, and other opiate pain killers
provide relief for severe migraines, although
they are know to have side effects that vary
from person to person, headaches due to medicine
also known as rebound headaches or analgesic
overuse headache. Other side effects vary from
one medicine to the next; also you have the
risk of addiction. Most physicians try to avoid
narcotics by using non-narcotics such as over-the-counter
medication.
Over-the-counter medications
Over-the-counter medications also known as
abortive medications are usually the first line
of medication to try to relieve your symptoms
of a migraine. Abortive medications help stop
or prevent other symptoms including pain, sensitivity
to light and sound, and nausea.
Most commonly used over-the-counter medications
used are aspirin, benadryl, acetaminophen, caffeine
pills, etc. These should be taken when you first
get signs a migraine is starting.
These can provide relief from the symptoms
of a migraine. These have more effect on people
who have infrequent migraines, usually less
than three a month, any more than 3 a month
you should consult a physician due to the fact
frequent use of can interfere in long term treatment.
Some of these medications are often combined
with another to form a dual action medication;
sometime you need a prescription for them.
These do provide some relief for mild or moderate
migraine cases. If the over-the-counter medications
don’t work for you your physician may try
a non-narcotic prescribed medication, basically
pain medicine stronger than over-the-counter
medications but still not strong enough to be
classified as a narcotic.
You may be prescribed fiorinal or fioricet,
this is a pill that combines acetaminophen,
caffeine, butalbital and or acetylsalicylic
acid.
The risk of some side affects are still there
such as rebound headaches and a low risk of
addiction, much lower than a narcotic. In some
cases where there is vomiting and you can’t
hold down any medications your physician may
give you a anti-emetic by injection or suppository
the sooner in the attack this drug is taken
the better effect you will have.
