Migraine has specific characteristics, including throbbing pain in pulses, nausea, vomiting, and worsening headache symptoms when exposed to sunlight, hot weather, or triggering factors. “Taking migraine medication” is a popular method to reduce migraine symptoms. However, did you know that taking migraine medication without thoroughly researching or consulting a pharmacist or doctor can lead to serious side effects?
Migraine pain… is often caused by these triggering factors
- Stress
- Sunlight
- Changing weather
- Strong odors, cigarette smoke
- Hormonal changes, such as during menstruation
- Certain foods, such as chocolate, tea, or coffee
- Insufficient rest
There are 2 main groups of migraine headache medications
- Medications taken only when having a headache
- Medications that can treat headache symptoms from migraine and other causes, such as paracetamol and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen.
- Medications specifically for migraine headache, including triptans and medications containing ergotamine.
- Medications to prevent migraine headaches are taken daily to reduce the frequency of migraine headaches in patients who experience frequent migraines, such as certain blood pressure medications or some anticonvulsants.
Precautions when taking migraine medication
- Frequent use of painkillers may cause a condition called Medication-overuse headache, where taking painkillers does not improve headache symptoms but worsens them.
- Migraine headache medications in each group have different precautions. For example, NSAIDs may cause stomach irritation. Medications containing ergotamine, if taken with certain other drugs, may cause blood vessel constriction or muscle spasms and cramps.
Self-care for migraine patients
- Avoid triggers that cause headaches
- Get enough rest
- Exercise regularly
Choosing to take medication on your own requires researching the drug and its side effects before use. If possible, especially for patients with underlying conditions, consult a pharmacist or doctor to select the appropriate medication group for the patient’s headache symptoms with the least side effects.
