Several reports have concluded that overusing over the counter migraine medication often results in rebound headaches. All of these medicines are recommended to be stored in an area where the temperature is between twenty to twenty-five degrees Celsius or sixty-eight and seventy-seven degrees Fahrenheit. If you live somewhere where this can’t be accomplished be aware that the effectiveness of these medications can be compromised. Also of concern is if you receive your medication by mail. Leaving the medicine in your mailbox in temperatures outside the recommended range for even a few hours can seriously impair their effectiveness.

Most of these medications warn against the same type of side effects, but the frequency of complaints about those side effects vary tremendously from one user to another.

Excedrin Migraine

Active Ingredients: Acetaminophen 250g, Aspirin 250mg, Caffeine 65mg.

Forms: Geltabs, Tablets, Capsules.

The recommended dose of Excedrin Migraine is two tablets taken at six-hour intervals. Excedrin Migraine actually contains the exact same ingredient combination as Excedrin Extra Strength. In fact, the only difference between Excedrin Migraine and Excedrin Extra Strength is that Excedrin Migraine comes with instructions containing a warning about treating migraines. The instructions warns patients to consult with a physician if their headache is accompanied by vomiting or requires bed rest. Excedrin Extra Strength also does not specifically contain migraines under its use section.

Excedrin has established a fine reputation among consumers. Usually it ranks at or near the in customer satisfaction surveys.

Advil Migraine

Active Ingredients: Ibuprofen 200mg. Also contains 20mg of potassium.

Forms: Liquid filled capsule.

Important information: In the United States Advil Migraine is the only over the counter migraine medication available in liquid capsule form.

You should be aware that Advil Migraine contains the exact same ingredients as regular Advil. Customer satisfaction concerning this product varies. While many report that their recommended dosage often relieves their pain, many other complain that one must exceed dosage in order to get relief. Others complain that it upsets their stomach if they don’t take it on a full stomach. Still others have complained about side effects such as nausea (see above), hives, swelling, etc. And yet others are simply unwilling to pay the extra price for this medication when they can buy the exact same medication under the regular Advil label.

Motrin Migraine Pain

Active Ingredient: Ibuprofen 200mg.

Forms: Caplets.

Contains the exact same ingredients as Motrin IB. You should be aware that Motrin Migraine pills are smaller than most other migraine pills. The advantage here is that they are easier to swallow, but at the same time because they are so small they could easily be mistaken for candy by a small child so be sure to keep them out of reach of the young ones. As with Advil, although perhaps even more, customer satisfaction truly runs the gamut when it comes to Motrin. Some migraine sufferers absolutely swear by it, while others say they will never take it again. There doesn’t seem to be any pattern as to why it works so well one some patients and not at all on others. It is recommended that you at least try Motrin because it just may be the answer to your prayers. On the other hand it may no do you good at all. So therefore you’ve got all to gain and only a little bit of money to lose.

Naproxen

Naproxen is in a class of drugs called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that work by reducing hormones that cause inflammation and pain in the body. Naproxen is sold under a wide variety of brand names across the world, including Aleve, Anaprox and Naprosyn.

TheraPatch Headache Cool Gel

One of the latest products to hit the markets are pads that can be placed on the forehead, temple or the back of the head which contain a gel that cools the skin for up to four hours. You can get the TheraPatch in two forms. One contains no medication whatever, while the other uses the patch as a device to deliver an analgesic. TheraPatch Cool contains menthol, camphor and methyl salicylate, while TheraPatch Warm contains capsaicin. LecTec is also offering medicinal patch products as a drug delivery alternative in the cough-cold and anti-itch sections.

Migraine headaches are different then a standard stress or tension headache. You can describe headaches in groups or primary and secondary group types

Headaches are described as being either primary or secondary.

Primary headaches include migraine, cluster headache, chronic daily headache, tension-type headache, and medication overuse headache

Secondary headaches are can be a symptom of something else like a sinus infection or a side effect of an illness or stress.

Migraine being a primary headache would not surprise most people, especially anyone who has ever suffered from one.

A migraine is not just regular headache or is the symptoms always the same as a headache. Moderate to very severe head pain is the most common migraine symptom; there are usually other symptoms that help diagnose frequent hurtful headaches as a migraine. It is important for you to understand and recognize these symptoms in order to help your doctor diagnose your headache and provide you with proper treatment.

The effectiveness of migraine treatment depends on a variety of factor. Treating migraines with prescriptive medication can be very effective, but don’t count on it.

Many do find relief through the newer medications on the market, but there are plenty who suffer through the trial period without any gain in the end. You may have to try out several medications before you come across the one that finally ends your misery.

Treating migraine through homeopathy is becoming a very popular alternative to medicine-based treatments. Homeopathy is basically a method or theory of healing that attempts to stimulate the body into healing itself by using natural remedies. Part of a homeopathic treatment is preventing the headache from starting in the first place.

In homeopathic treatments it’s very important to determine what your migraine trigger is. How successful you are in avoiding your, how proactive your are in administering your treatment, the patient is in using treatments such as relaxation or drugs and how well the patient responds to treatment. All contemporary knowledge about migraines points to chemical reactions in the brain causing blood vessels to constrict and then expand creating a sudden blood flow as the process, which creates the headaches, associated with migraines. Therefore the key to avoiding migraines is limiting exposure to triggers.

An enormous list of triggers has been accumulated through research into migraines. Among the most common triggers to be aware of: Stress, aroma, menstruation, sleep pattern disturbances, climate change, and diet. A huge amount of scientific research has been processed about the various triggers of migraine headaches and in short, the researchers have come to believe that two primary culprits stand out in the crowd of triggers. Many researchers have decided that food and food additives are part of the main reasons behind triggering migraines. On the other hand, many researchers are adamant that the primary trigger for migraines is stress.

It’s very important know triggers your migraine so you can determine whether to avoid it or not. Finding trigger by journaling (writing down what you eat and what stresses happen around the time a migraine happens can help in preventing the triggers in the first place.

Modern medical techniques for migraine relief are leaning more toward preventive applications and preventive medications also.

Migraine prevention medicine is different from migraine pain relief medicine. For most people who suffer headaches, migraine prevention medicine is a whole new way to treat their migraines. Preventive (prophylactic) medications are prescribed for severe headaches that occur more than twice a month, and that significantly interfere with daily activities. Preventive medications are intended to reduce both the frequency and the severity of the headache and are usually taken daily.

Often doctor prescribed migraine treatments are separated into these categories; migraine prevention medicine and acute migraine pain relief medicine. Here’s how the two types of medicine differ. Severe migraine pain relief medicine is taken at the start of migraine headache pain. Migraine prevention medicine is taken daily to help reduce the frequency of migraines, so you can have fewer of them. It does not provide relief from the pain of a migraine in progress.

So whether or not a person suffering from an acute migraine wants homeopathic techniques or medical research and a doctor’s advice finding triggers and preventive measures are both suggested.

Although there are many other alternative therapies for treating migraines, probably the first thing most of us will turn to is medication. Society today looks for quick answers found inside a pill, tablet or capsule to all our various ailments. There is certainly nothing wrong with resorting to medication, but when it comes to migraines one should be especially careful about what kind they use.

ASPIRIN

Aspirin is the grand old standby for pain relief. It seems as though aspirin has been around forever and its reputation is getting better every day as it has become a recommended daily preventative measure against heart attacks. Here are some thing to keep in mind when using aspirin to treat migraines.

• Aspirin should never be given to children under 12.

• Absorption of aspirin is much more effective and the chances for stomach problems are significantly decreased when dissolved in water.

• Aspirin can be used in combination with codeine; however be aware that codeine often causes constipation and/or dizziness.

PARACETAMOL

• Similar to aspirin, but usually less irritating to the stomach lining.

• Is often used in combination with codeine or sedatives which often strengthens its ability to relieve pain.

• Paracetamol can cause liver damage if taken in excessive quantities.

SUMATRIPTAN (Imigran)

• Prescription drug developed specifically to act against migraine headache.

• It has been proven to be quite effective against migraine.

• Imigram is available in tablet, injection and nasal spray forms.

• Sumatriptan effects include nausea, and chest and throat tightness.

• Sumatriptan should be avoided by those suffering from heart disease, poor

circulation or angina.

METOCLOPRAMIDE (maxalon)

• A prescription medicine used in combination with aspirin as an anti-nausea drug.

• May improve the absorption of other migraine drugs.

ERGOTAMINE (Ergodryl, Cafergot, Migral)

• Another effective prescription drug, this one was originally derived from a fungus that grows on rye.

• Unlike the other medications, this one is not a painkiller, but instead works specifically to reduce the pressure of blood vessels which causes migraine headaches.

• Is often used in combination with caffeine in order to improve its effectiveness.

• It is available in both tablet and suppository form

• Has been known to cause nausea.

• Works by causing a narrowing of the arteries, which may worsen poor circulation.

• This medication should not be used in individuals who suffer from heart angina. Dihydroergotamine (Dihydergot) is a similar drug that is given by injection.

PIZOTIFEN (Sandomigran)

• This is perhaps the most commonly prescribed preventative medication for migraines.

• Common side effects associated with pizotifen include sedation and weight gain.

PROPRANOLOL (Inderal, Deralin)

• Originally introduced to treat high blood pressure.

• Multiple side effects ranging from insomnia, depression and weight gain to nightmares,

impotence, and dizziness due to low blood pressure.

• May aggravate asthma and poor circulation, but is usually safe in heart disease and angina.

• Some people experience problems in absorbing this drug, so high doses may be required.

AMITRIPTYLINE (Tryptanol and other brands)

• The medication works on headaches independently of its antidepressant action.

• Side effects include dry mouth, sedation, weight gain, occasionally blurred

vision, constipation, and bladder problems.

• New antidepressants like fluoxetine (Prozac) and similar drugs are not as effective as headache preventatives.

VALPROATE (Epilim)

• Introduced initially to treat epilepsy, it was found to act against most forms of headaches.

• Side effects include weight gain, nausea, tremor, hair loss and liver injury.

FEVERFEW

• Not so much a medication as an herbal extract that has been found effective for treating migraine headache.

• Few side effects, but be aware that some commercial preparations of feverfew may

be too weak to be active against headache.

METHYSERGIDE (Deseril)

• Methysergide is related to ergotamine.

• Often causes upset stomachs and has also been known to cause muscle aches and dizziness.

• When used over long periods of time, methysergide has caused severe scarring around the kidneys, therefore it must be used strict medical supervision.

Migraine pain is something that anyone who has ever experienced it wouldn’t wish on anybody else except her worst enemy. And yet, one can argue that that very same migraine pain has been the genesis of some truly amazing feats of artistic accomplishment. The conventional wisdom is that only great suffering spurs great art. In the case of art created by migraine sufferers, that conventional wisdom may be very wise indeed.

Painters especially have been very effective in taking their pain and translating into great art. The visual disturbances associated with migraine aura lends itself to artistic expression in a wide variety of disciplines, from watercolors to oils and from surrealism to expressionism. The first pictorial evidence of migraine aura symptoms may very well be reflected in the drawings of a medieval mystic known as Hildegard of Bilgen. Hildegard not only translated her visions into art, but also wrote extensively about the disease.

Surrealism especially seems to have been an outlet for painters suffering the effects of migraines. The surrealist painter Georgia de Chirico is on record as having been a migraine sufferer. Salvador Dali is also suspected of having created much of his bizarre images out of visual hallucinations associated with migraine aura.

There are various webs site devoted to what is known as “migraine art” and there have even been migraine art exhibitions. In fact, there have been migraine art competitions in which paintings were judged based on how well the painters translated the following the guidelines from inside their head onto the canvas. They had to successfully paint their own singular impressions of any form of visual disturbance which heralds a classical migraine attack, the pain associated with a migraine attack, as well as the effect that migraine headaches has had on their lives.

If you’re looking for art that may have been inspired by migraines, be sure to check out the following artists:

Georgia O’Keefe

William Blake

Vincent Van Gogh

Peggy Hoffman

Neel Kar

Angela Butt

Gill Knox

Sofia Greene

Molly Barr

Mark Fitzgerald

Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland books are well-known examples of literature inspired by migraines, and probably the most famous. But they are hardly the only books written by migraine suffferers.

Joan Didion’s essay “In Bed” is an achingly honest—no pun intended—account of her battle with migraines. Anyone who has ever suffered through the misery of migraines can commiserate with Didion. It’s probably one of the most honest and sincere works of literature about any kind of debilitating ailment ever written.

Karla J. Dorman’s poem “Lady of the Lights” is a fantastic recreation of the bizarre visual disturbances associated with migraine aura. All of those who have seen flashing lights, shooting stars and zigzagging lines dance before their eyes during the throes of a migraine only to be told that there is no such things as a migraine and it’s all in their head will appreciate this honest representation of what Dorman describes as a circus.

H.G. Wells’ “The Remarkable Case of Davidson’s Eyes” is often thought to have been inspired by migraines.

And then there’s music. Generally, music isn’t terribly conducive to migraines. After all, sensitivity to noise is a hallmark of migraines and one of its triggers. Of course, one doesn’t necessarily have to create music during the midst of a migraine episode. The memory lingers on, as they say. Several really big names in music suffered from migraine headaches, including Gustav Mahler and Elvis Presley. Jeff Tweedy of the group Wilco is well known-documented migraine sufferer who has expressed his pain through music. In addition, some specific music and songs owe their genesis at least in part to migraines.

“Migraine” from the album Abrasive by Puddle of Mudd

“Migraine” from the album Nightfreak and the Sons of Becker by The Coral

“Migraine” from the album Broken Airplanes by Troubled Hubble

“Migraine” from the album Sleep No More by DJ Signify

“Migraine Induced Madness” by Brad Preston. This one was allegedly written by Preston while in the midst of a migraine episode.

Migraines occur far more frequently in women than in men. In fact, in adult women the rate of frequency is roughly fifteen to seventeen percent, whereas in men it is only about five percent.

Studies have concluded that estrogen withdrawal is a key factor in migraines related to menstrual cycles.

Twenty-five to thirty percent of all women in their 30s experience at least an occasional migraine.

Menstrual migraines generally last longer than non-menstrual migraines and often are much more difficult to treat effectively.

Sixty to seventy percent of women who suffer from migraines have menstrual-related migraine.

Ten to fourteen percent of women with migraines have them only during menstruation. These types of headaches are known as ‘true menstrual migraine’.

Premenstrual migraine may in fact be part premenstrual syndrome (PMS), the menstrual related mood disorder. Symptoms of PMS include fatigue, irritability or depression, bloating and, yes, headache.

Two-thirds of women who suffered from pre-menopausal migraines find their condition improve with physiologic menopause. On the other hand, it has been found that surgical menopause worsens migraine conditions in two-thirds of cases.

Migraine attacks usually disappear during pregnancy. At the same time, however, some women report an initial onset of migraines during the first trimester of pregnancy, with the disappearance of their headaches after the third month of pregnancy.

Treatment options for menstrual migraine

When choosing to treat menstrual migraines with medication, the drugs used most often are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs). The NSAIDS of choice in treating menstrual migraines are:

ketoprofen (Orudis)

ibuprofen (Advil and Motrin)

fenoprofen calcium (Nalfon)

naproxen (Naprosyn)

nabumetone (Relafen)

For best results when using NSAIDs to treat migraines, usage should be started two to three days before menstrual flow actually begins and the therapy should be continued throughout the period. Gastrointestinal side effects are generally not serious enough to be considered because the therapy takes place over such a short period, no pun intended.

For patients who suffer from more severe menstrual migraines or who desire to continue taking oral contraceptives, doctors also recommend taking a NSAID. This therapy should begin l9th day of your cycle and continue through the second day of the next cycle.

Some women have found antinausea medicine and pain relievers like aspirin, ibuprofen or acetaminophen sufficient enough to dull the pain. Others trust in analgesics or serotonin agonists such as Imitrex, Zomig, Amerge or Maxalt. When using medications, it is extremely important to be aware of the dangers of avoiding a repetitive pattern of medication or overuse of medication as this can cause rebound headaches.

You might also consider using an estrogen skin patch. This treatment is utilized in the days leading up to your period and may either delay or actually prevent the onset of a menstrual migraine.

Some studies have found that daily doses of magnesium may help menstrual migraines in certain women. In addition, vitamin and herbal treatments have been found to be effective. The herb feverfew or vitamin B2 when taken on a daily basis may reduce

Either the severity or the frequency of headaches, though research does not point to

menstrual migraines in particular.

Even though two-thirds of women do report improvement in their migraine condition with the onset of natural menopause, two-thirds of women report a worsening with surgical, therefore neither a hysterectomy nor an ovarian removal are recommended.

As always, you should consult your physician for a proper diagnosis before discontinuing or launching on kind of new treatment, including over-the-counter medication treatments.

Every person has a unique health profile that includes aspects specific to their physiology and family history and that may preclude them from taking certain medications.

Some final tips

There enough different migraine triggers to fill a book and keeping track of them can be a full time job. It is highly recommended that you keep a trigger diary that includes a record of foods you eat, weather conditions, medications you have taken, stressful events, menstrual activity, etc.

Also of benefit is developing a plan around your period. Reduce stress as much as possible by planning work and leisure commitments around your cycle so as to cut back on menstrual-related triggers as much as possible.