The Migraine Experts Talk About the Best Methods to Treat Headaches Migraine: Experts Discuss Best Ways to Treat Headaches Medical News Today

The exact cause for migraine is not known. However, it is believed to be genetically rooted.

The pain that occurs during migraine headaches can be caused by changes in the nerves as well as blood vessels within the brain. The migraine episodes are broken down in five stages:

1. Prodrome is a “pre-headache” warning that the headache is about to begin. It could be accompanied by mood changes or food cravings. It could also be constipation.
2. Aura Sensory disturbances such that cause temporary loss vision flashes of light, feeling of numbness and tingling within an area or body.
3. Headache: throbbing and drilling the neck, pain and stiffness.
4. Postdrome: The final phase of a migraine episode which can be described as the feeling of fatigue, the inability to concentrate and depressed mood.
5. Interictal is the time between migraine episodes.

Patients do not all have the five phases. For instance, only 25-30 percent of migraine sufferers are affected by aura. The

phases

They also don’t necessarily occur in this sequence. ie. headache and migraine can occur simultaneously.

MNT interviewed Dr. J. Wes Ulm who is a bioinformatic resource consultant and biomedical information specialists for The National Institutes of Health regarding the current standards of treatment for migraines.

“The mainstay of treatment for acute migraine episodes is an empirically-determined regimen of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as naproxen, ibuprofen, or diclofenac [and] standard over-the-counter analgesics like aspirin or acetaminophen,” Ulm explained.

“A long-standing prescription drugs referred to as

triptans

Such as sumatriptanand almotriptan as well as frovatriptan, are also considered to be the to be standard of treatment],” he added. “Triptans are part of a class called serotonin receptor agonists that block the biological processes that cause migraines For instance, through reducing the increase in amount of blood flowing (vasodilation) that blood vessels in the brain. They also help reduce pain signals that are interpreted as pain itselfas trigeminovascular – also known as trigeminovascular.”

Ulm said that all of these medications are well-tolerated however their effectiveness varies particularly for migraines that are severe.

He said that prolonged or excessive doses could cause negative consequences. These drugs can lead to kidney damage and peptic ulcers and triptan usage can trigger unpleasant feelings.

MNT also talked to the Dr. Vernon Williams, a neurologist for sports, specialist in pain management and the founder of the Center for Sports Neurology and Pain Medicine at Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute in Los Angeles.

He also said that holistic strategies are also suggested, which includes avoiding triggers, improving sleeping patterns, ensuring overall wellbeing as well as reducing stress levels, and working out regularly.

When asked about the latest treatment options, Ulm noted that two new classes of drugs are called

Gepants

Some of them, like rimegepant and ubrogepant, and ditans like lasmiditan are recently approved by the regulatory bodies.

“Gepants are primarily targeting one of the most fundamental reasons for migraines that is a molecule referred to as calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP) Ditans focus more specifically on the serotonin receptors that are targeted by triptansand with lesser side effects” Ulm noted.

The results of studies show that these drugs are effective in patients suffering from cardiovascular diseases who are unable to use triptans.

“There is also an interest in the possibilities of celecoxib in liquid form which is a different NSAID that could be beneficial in certain instances of migraines and also enhancements in anesthesia” Ulm added.

Doctor. Vanessa Cooper, a neurologist at Yale Medicine in Connecticut Dr. Vanessa Cooper, a neurologist at Yale Medicine in Connecticut, explained to the MNT that non-pharmacological devices for neuromodulation which stimulate nerves magnetically or electrically can also be beneficial:

“The Remote electrical nerve stimulation (REN) gadget (Nerivio) stimulates peripheral nerves that are located in the upper arm, leading to conditioned pain control and offers a nonpharmacological treatment that patients can take,” the doctor said. “A other device that is a combination of trigeminal and occipital external stimulation (Reviolon) is also an alternative to pharmaceutical therapy for patients who have not been able to take traditional medication.”

“There are many who don’t respond well to any of the drugs or suffer from side effects related to them, including the newest ones. The newer drugs are usually quite costly and some don’t have access to these medications. There are those who choose a different approach that doesn’t use drugs,” Dr. Howard Schubiner physician in the field of internal medicine and clinical instructor at the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine said to MNT..

For the patients mentioned, Schubiner said the therapies like the reprocessing of pain, emotional awareness and expression therapy may effectively ease pain associated with conditions like migraine.

“There are a significant correlation with migraines and stress-inducing life events . They tend to be more common in those who have suffered trauma earlier in their lives. Certain people are able to see the connections and are curious about these connections,” he said. “Our brains react to life stressors by triggering a range of physical reactions, such as insomnia, anxiety pelvic or abdominal pain as well as neck or back pain, as well as different types of headaches, among which migraine is just one. The symptoms mentioned above are 100% real and not imaginable.”

When asked how the newest therapies compare to current treatment, Williams said:

“All of these methods complement and complement the existing methods. The toolbox is expanding , which is a good thing. However, it should be supported by improved knowledge, recognition and access to latest alternatives. A lot of times, there are guidelines that are beneficial to people, but they are not covered or have the financial or economic capacity to pursue cutting-edge treatment.”

Cooper said: “According to the American Headache Society surgery procedures to treat migraine are not currently the practice of treatment since the results have not yet been verified through a large clinical study These procedures are costly and complications resulting from implanted devices are not uncommon.”

Doctor. Howard Pratt, D.O. Dr. Howard Pratt, D.O., who is the director of medical services for behavioral health of Community Health of South Florida, Inc. (CHI) has told the MNTthat as a doctor Dr. Howard Pratt is a fan of having the widest range of treatment options as he can.

He also noted that modern methods help to make treatment more accessible for people who previously had few choices, like patients with cardiovascular disease.

When asked about the research required to enhance migraine treatments He replied:

“It’s vital to identify as much as possible the causes for migraines that can be treated and also to determine for particular patient, what their possible triggers for migraine could be in addition to following the standards of care and reviewing information.”