Drugs for Migraine http://www.aperfectworld.org/cartoons/migraine.gif

Migraine Migraine is a painful neurological condition, of which the most common symptom is an intense and disabling episodic headache, which occurs usually on one side of the head. Actually the word migraine is French in origin and comes from the Greek word hemicrania, which literally means ”only half the head”.

Migraine Migraine is very common illness: 10% of the world’s population suffer from it It is two times more common among women than men because the menstrual cycle Migraine doesn’t depend on age, but it’s usually a problem for 20-50-year-old people Migraine is heritable Before it was believed that migraine was an illness among the clever and meticulous people

Migraine Attack Generally, there are two types of migraine: a migraine with aura and a migraine without aura There are also unusual migraine types like basilar type migraine and familial hemiplegic migraine Migraine attack can be divided up to four phases: Prodrome phase Aura phase Pain phase Postdrome phase

1. Prodrome phase This phase may consist of tiredness and yawning or, on the other way round, of hyperactivity. Little by little comes very mild nausea, mood altering and craving for certain food (like chocolate). Some migraineurs don’t notice this phase.

2. Aura phase 20-30% of people who have migraine have this phase which begins usually about an hour before the headache. A typical symptom is a disturbance of vision consisting usually flashing bright lights, coloured dazzling zigzags or tunnel vision. Other not so common symptoms are numbness and tingling of face and limbs, difficulty to find words or inability to speak, or even temporary paresis.

3. Pain phase Usually after a half an hour begins the headache. It’s normally very violent and throbbing pain on one side of the head. The pain is a consequence of expanding of the blood vessels in the head, and physical work commonly makes the pain worse. This phase continues from hours to days and includes nausea and vomiting.

4. Postdrome phase Postdrome phase begins after the headache has vanished. Most of the migraine patients are tired and muzzy in this phase.

Drugs for Migraine There are many treatments for migraine, including drugs that prevent migraine and drugs that ease the migraine attack. Common over-the-counter pain killers might sometimes work if they are taken before the pain phase.

Preventive drugs The drugs used for preventing migraine are less used, usually by patients who suffer from migraine attacks recurring many times (over 2 times) a month. The most effective medications include several drug classes: * Drugs more commonly used for treating arterial hypertension, like beta blockers * Antiepileptics such as valproic acid and topiramate * Antidepressants

Drugs that ease the migraine attack These drugs, like Almogran, Imigran and Anervan, are more commonly used and treat the symptoms of migraine.

How do they work? There are many different drugs, but they all treat the symptoms the same way: Almotriptan and sumatriptan function as body’s own serotonin transmitter by narrowing the expanded blood vessels in the brain. This stops the pain signals from being sent to the brain and stops the release of certain natural subtances that cause other symptoms of migraine, like nausea.

How do they work? Also ergotamine is used to treat migraine attacks. It acts by narrowing the blood vessels in the brain with the help of other drugs in the preparation. Migraine drugs are used as tablets, nasal sprays, suppositories and injections. The variety of drug formulas is needed because some preparations are not suitable for everyone.

How do they work? Side effects: dizziness somnipathy nause, vomiting drowsiness Rare side effects: pain and pressure or tightness in the chest or neck Patients who are pregnant, breast feeding or have heart diseases should discuss with their doctors about using the drugs. All migraine drugs need prescription.