Many people who have migraines find that over-the-counter painkillers, such as paracetamol , aspirin and ibuprofen , can help to reduce their symptoms.
They tend to be most effective if taken at the first signs of a migraine attack, as this gives them time to absorb into your bloodstream and ease your symptoms. It's not advisable to wait until the headache worsens before taking painkillers, as it's often too late for the medicine to work.
Tablets you dissolve in a glass of water soluble painkillers are a good alternative because they're absorbed quickly by your body. If you cannot swallow painkillers because of nausea or vomiting, suppositories may be a better option.
These are capsules that are inserted into the bottom. When taking over-the-counter painkillers, always make sure you read the instructions on the packaging and follow the dosage recommendations. Children under 16 should not take aspirin unless it's under the guidance of a healthcare professional. Aspirin and ibuprofen are also not recommended for adults who have a history of stomach problems, such as stomach ulcers , liver problems or kidney problems. Taking any form of painkiller frequently can make migraines worse.
This is sometimes called a medication overuse headache or painkiller headache. Speak to a GP if you find yourself needing to use painkillers repeatedly or over-the-counter painkillers are not effective. If they suspect the frequent use of painkillers may be contributing your headaches, they may recommended that you stop using them.
If ordinary painkillers are not helping to relieve your migraine symptoms, you should make an appointment to see a GP. They may recommend taking painkillers in addition to a type of medicine called a triptan, and possibly anti-sickness medicine. Triptan medicines are a specific painkiller for migraine headaches. They're thought to work by reversing the changes in the brain that may cause migraine headaches.
They cause the blood vessels around the brain to narrow contract. This reverses the widening of blood vessels that's believed to be part of the migraine process. Once you feel a migraine coming on, aggressively hydrating may help shorten the length of your attack, says Roderick Spears, MD , a neurologist and headache specialist at Penn Medicine in Philadelphia. Have trouble drinking enough water? Try flavoring plain water with a slice of lemon or lime or adding a small amount of fruit juice.
When your water tastes better, you may drink more. Whether this helps you depends on the person, Newman says. Some people experiencing a migraine may be extremely sensitive to touch, and a massage can make them feel worse. According to the American Migraine Foundation , allodynia can make even normal activities such as brushing hair or resting your head on a pillow very painful.
As many as 8 in 10 people with migraine report stress as a trigger for headaches, says Rebecca Wells, MD , an associate professor of neurology at Wake Forest Baptist Health in North Carolina and director of the comprehensive headache program. Mindfulness meditation can help people manage stress differently by focusing on what is happening in the present moment, she says. A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine conducted by Wells and colleagues found that mindfulness meditation may help treat the overall burden of migraine in some individuals by improving disability, quality of life, and depression.
The scent of lavender may have a calming effect, which can also help relieve stress. Place a cool cloth or ice pack wrapped in a towel or cloth on your forehead and drink lots of water. Exercise regularly. Regular aerobic exercise reduces tension and can help prevent a migraine. If your doctor agrees, choose aerobic activity you enjoy, such as walking, swimming and cycling. Warm up slowly, however, because sudden, intense exercise can cause headaches. Regular exercise can also help you lose weight or maintain a healthy body weight, and obesity is thought to be a factor in migraines.
A high dose of riboflavin vitamin B-2 may reduce the frequency and severity of headaches. Coenzyme Q10 supplements might decrease the frequency of migraines, but larger studies are needed. Ask your doctor if these treatments are right for you. If you're pregnant, don't use any of these treatments without first talking with your doctor. You'll probably first see a primary care provider, who might then refer you to a doctor trained in evaluating and treating headaches neurologist.
Take a family member or friend along, if possible, to help you remember the information you receive. Migraine care at Mayo Clinic.
Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Diagnosis If you have migraines or a family history of migraines, a doctor trained in treating headaches neurologist will likely diagnose migraines based on your medical history, symptoms, and a physical and neurological examination.
Occipital nerve stimulation: Effective migraine treatment? Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Yoga is thought to help improve blood flow and reduce muscle tension, which can help relieve symptoms for people who get migraines.
A comprehensive study compared conventional migraine treatment with and without the addition of regular yoga practice. The researchers found that the group who participated in a yoga program had greater relief than the group who joined in conventional treatment alone.
Biofeedback takes practice and training. Sensors placed on the muscles feed into a small machine that gives real-time feedback about muscle tension, allowing users to release the tight areas better. Placement of sensors along the forehead, jawline, or trapezius muscles in the shoulders can help to target muscles that might be triggering migraine pain. An extensive systematic review looked at studies that evaluated the effectiveness of acupuncture for treating migraines and other conditions.
The study authors found that acupuncture is an effective treatment choice for people with migraine headaches, although they pointed out that other factors might be playing a part also. People who are interested in using acupuncture for migraines should make sure to find a licensed practitioner for treatment.
Massaging the muscles in the neck and shoulders can help to relieve tension and alleviate migraine pain. Massage may also reduce stress. People can choose to use a professional masseuse for a massage. Alternatively, taking a tennis ball and using it to do a self-massage along the shoulders and back is another, more cost-effective, option. Herbal supplements, such as butterbur, may help reduce migraine frequency. Butterbur and feverfew are two herbal supplements that may be helpful in reducing migraine pain and frequency.
A daily dose of milligrams mg of butterbur was effective in lowering migraine frequency when taken for about 3 months, according to the American Migraine Foundation.
The foundation suggest feverfew is less effective than butterbur. Feverfew may, however, be helpful for some people. There are some risks in using these herbs, severe in rare cases, and anyone wanting to try them should speak with their doctor first. Deficiency of magnesium , which is an essential mineral, may trigger migraine aura or a menstrual-migraine headache.
A migraine aura is a visual disturbance that occurs at the onset of a migraine. Not everyone who gets migraines will experience a migraine aura. Research has found that supplementation of magnesium can be useful in reducing the frequency of migraines in some individuals.
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