Headaches Preventive Medications and Treatments

When dealing with headaches, prevention can make all the difference in the world. Most people who suffer from headaches would, obviously, prevent them if they could. Those who suffer from migraines would definitely agree, as these headaches are characterized by a pulsing pain that has effects that are often long-lasting.

Part of migraine treatment involves using prophylactic medications. These drugs are designed to prevent something, which is why you've probably heard condoms referred to as prophylactics. These drugs are intended to prevent headache pain before it begins. Drugs that are used to treat headache pain after it starts are called abortive drugs. They are designed to eliminate a problem after it arises.

Many times headaches can be prevented by making certain lifestyle changes. An example of this would be reducing your intake of red wine. Red wine is a known trigger for some who suffer from migraines. It's often something as simple as walking up stairs that can trigger an episode. Other common triggers include lack of sleep, improper diet, and stress. It may take some doing, but changes to your lifestyle can be very effective for preventing headaches.

But for many, drugs are the best answer.

There are several different preventative medications on the market. Beta-blockers and channel blockers are examples of these. These drugs are also used for the treatment of various other conditions, but you get the added benefit of headache treatment with it.

Heart conditions are often treated using beta-blockers, as well as migraines. Dilated blood vessels are thought to be a cause of migraines. Beta-blockers prevent this dilation from taking place. Sometimes beta-blockers will treat the actual trigger of a migraine, such as high blood pressure and other heart conditions.

Another heart medication that is useful for preventing migraines is channel-blockers. They prevent calcium from entering the muscle cells of the heart. They are typically known as CCB's (Calcium Channel Blockers). Although the heart needs calcium to be healthy, too much is not good. By reducing this particular heart condition, they also eliminate a possible migraine trigger.

Depression is a known trigger of various types of headaches. With this being the case, certain anti-depressant drugs can be useful in preventing headaches. When you remove one of the possible causes, you reduce the odds of an episode. Two examples of these are amitriptyline and doxepin.

Migraines and seizures have some of the same neurological features. Because of this, anti-seizure medication can often be used to prevent the onset of an attack. Auras and prodromes are two such features that are reported in about 20% of migraine sufferers. They show up as flashes of light and loss of vision, and are common warning signs of migraine attacks.

Another type of preventative treatment are anti-serotonin medications. Serotonin, which is a type of neurotransmitter, is thought to play an important role in the development of migraines. These drugs are designed to release a compound that replaces the serotonin in the nerve cells. It is thought that this can reduce the risk of migraine attacks.

As with any type of treatment, the decision is going to be based on your specific circumstances. Sit down with your doctor and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of each treatment option. From there, you can make an informed decision that will be most beneficial to you.

         

Introduction to Headaches

Causes of Headaches
Common Headache Symptoms
Diagnosing Headaches
Who is At Risk of Suffering from Headaches?

Headaches Guide and Info

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Cluster Headaches Symptoms, Causes and Treatments
Tension Headaches Causes, Symptoms and Treatments
Migraine Symptoms, Causes and Treatments
Seeking Medical Advice for Headaches
Sinus Headaches Causes and Treatments

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Brand Name vs Generic Medication – Headache Treatments