Ask the Expert Archive Week 8
MIGRAINES
How do you get a headache to back off with migraine medications?
Valerie South from the World Headache Alliance shares her suggestions. There is good news from the world of medicine for people who suffer from migraines. Research in the last ten years has led to the development of new medicines that are made specifically to abort a migraine attack. In other words, we don't just have the pain killers that we have had in the past, now we have a medication that's just for migraines. There's a whole new class of medications called the triptan medications. Some of the brand names are Imitrex, Zomig and Amerge, and there are a couple more are on the horizon.
In addition to this, there are new delivery systems for this medication. People with migraines often have nausea that accompanies their attack, may even vomiting. And for most people, absorbing medication through the stomach can be a problem from time to time. So researchers have developed two new devices, one of them is an auto-injector. This actually allows a person in their own home or in their office to give an injection just under the skin of the thigh. The needle actually sits inside of this - you don't actually have to see the needle if you don't want to - and once you press a button the medication is actually delivered right into your bloodstream, it completely bypasses the stomach. For those of you who are not fond of needles, there is another option available, a nasal spray. This allows the medication delivered through the nostrils and to the capillary beds that lie in the nasal passages. From there the medication is also absorbed straight into the bloodstream. So if you haven't seen a doctor for several years and are still suffering from migraines, or if your current medication is not working for you, it may be time to make an appointment to see the doctor once again. These new treatments are available and hope is available. Best of luck.
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