Migraine

Migraine


What is Migraine?
'Classic' migraine starts with a warning, known as an aura, which often takes the form of flashing lights, 'zig zag' lines and partial loss of vision. This is followed by an intense, one sided, throbbing headache which can last from 2 hours to 2 days. There is also nausea and maybe vomiting, and light or noise can become intolerable. Many sufferers don't get the aura, whereas others will get very early 'pre auras,' such as yawning a great deal, mood changes, or cravings for certain foods!

Who gets migraine?
It occurs three times as often in women, though nearly 80% of women lose their migraine during pregnancy, a rather drastic cure! In about 50% of sufferers migraine begins before the age of 20, and onset is rare after 50 years of age. It's rather interesting that 70% of migraine sufferers have a close relative with migraine, and it has affected many a famous person such as Julius Caesar, Abraham Lincoln, Tchaikovsky and Chopin. Currently, in the UK, there are 5 million migraine sufferers.

What's the cause?
Migraine is the result of a disturbance of circulation through the brain's blood vessels. There are many different 'triggers' that can set off a migraine attack:
*Chocolate. Cheese. Coffee. Shellfish. Fried food.
* Citrus fruits especially oranges.
*Red wine.
*Crisps.
*Sausages.
*Tinned meat and tinned fish.
*Monosodium Glutamate, often used in chinese food.
*Tobacco Smoke.
*Loud noise.
*Flickering lights. Bright lights.
*Strong smells.
*Missing meals.
*Late arising.
*Periods.
*The 'Pill'.
*Stress.
*Excitement.
*Dental problems.
*Arthritis of the jaw joint.

What's the treatment?
Prevention.
If you know what triggers the migraine, avoiding the cause is the most obvious step if possible! If you are unsure as to the exact cause, try to keep an exact record of when your attacks occur. The diary may just hold the key, especially if you were to show it to your doctor. For example, one patient of mine only had migraines on weekdays. The cause became obvious when she happened to mention that, on those days, she missed breakfast, as she was rushing off to work! She was advised to have just a slice or two of toast and the migraines disappeared!

Self treatment
The key to success is to start your treatment as early as possible in the attack. Milder attacks could be stopped by taking either 2 soluble paracetamol tablets or 3 soluble aspirin as quickly as possible (aspirin should be avoided by ulcer patients and those with indigestion). After this, resting somewhere quiet and dark and sleep helps many migraines to clear! A product called 'Migraleve' can be bought over the counter and has proved quite popular, as it contains painkillers and an anti- nausea treatment.

GP treatment
Again, speed of treatment is essential. The use of either 'Maxolon' or 'Motilium' to clear the nausea, followed by 2 soluble paracetamol or 3 soluble aspirin has proved useful. Other treatments involve the use of a drug called ergotamine, but should not be used more than twice a month. Such medications include 'Cafergot'(often more effective in it's suppository form), 'Lingraine'(not to be swallowed, but dissolved under the tongue), 'Medihaler Ergotamine'(an inhaler for rapid relief of migraine) and 'Migril' tablets.

A new drug called, 'Imigran', has just become available, and, although expensive, has brought relief to over 70% of patients within one hour. Unfortunately, you have to inject this yourself into your thigh.

Patients who are subject to frequently recurring migraines can take medications on a daily basis to prevent their attacks. The drugs we use in these circumstances are beta blockers such as 'Inderal LA'. Another popular preventive drug is 'Sanomigran' which is best taken at night and can be used in children and teenagers.

Premenstrual migraine has been helped by two interesting prescription items 'Naprosyn' 500 mgm twice daily, or the oestrogen skin patch 'Estraderm 50', both to be used used three days before a period is due. 'Naprosyn' is normally used for arthritis, and 'Estraderm' for the menopause!

If you do suffer from migraine it is very important that you try different treatments, because what might help one sufferer often doesn't help another. We are all different, and you may have to shop around to find your own 'cure'. Best of Health.

Further information can be found at: The Migraine Trust http://www.migrainetrust.org




IMPORTANT NOTICE : This content is from the Dr Chris Steele personal archive and is provided for convenience only. Information contained here may no longer agree with the most up to date medical advice. Please check with a medical professional before taking any action.

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