Migraine is a chronic neurological disease. It is manifested by periodic attacks of moderate or severe pulsating headache, which occurs in response to provoking factors (weather conditions, stress, alcohol consumption, etc.). The pain is usually one-sided, lasting from 4 hours to 3 days, accompanied by nausea, vomiting, light and sound.
Treatment of migraine is complex and involves the use of medications. We will consider, what preparations from a migraine are applied now, and what of them it is necessary to give preference.
How to choose a medication for migraine?
There are a number of medications that are used for migraine to suppress a pain attack. What kind of medication to use for migraines, can tell only the attending physician after the diagnosis.
It should be noted that there is no "ideal", the best medication for migraine, which would be able to help absolutely all patients. The fact that a drug that perfectly helps one patient, may not be suitable for others. Moreover, even in the same patient, the anti-migraine medication can help in one attack and be absolutely ineffective in another. When selecting a medicinal product, you should take into account the intensity of pain and the degree of disability, as well as contraindications and concomitant diseases.
It is believed that a cure for migraine is effective if:
- this drug relieves pain syndrome and improves well-being for 2 hours;
- the preparation perfectly "works" in two attacks of three;
- after his admission, a migraine attack does not occur again during the following days;
- there is no need for additional admission of this or another means to relieve the attack.
Analgesics for migraine
In the first stage, when choosing a medication for migraine, anesthetics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs known to virtually everyone: paracetamol, metamizole, aspirin, ketoprofen, naproxen, diclofenac, ibuprofen, codeine, etc., are usually prescribed. They can be used alone or in combination. However, many patients have noted the low effectiveness of these remedies for migraines.
Triptans with migraine
More effective are preparations of the group of triptans, which include: almotriptan, freotriptan, eletriptan, rizotriptan, zolmitriptan, naratriptan, sumatriptan. The effect of these drugs has not yet been studied in full, and clinical studies are still being conducted. Therefore, some of these funds have not yet been authorized for use in our country.
Triptans are vasoconstrictive drugs used for migraines, which act solely on the vessels of the brain. In addition, tryptans act on the receptors of the cerebral cortex, reducing the release of substances that cause inflammation and pain. They also affect the trigeminal nerve, reducing its sensitivity to pain.
Sumatriptan (the permitted drug) is applied intranasally, orally and subcutaneously. During the migraine aura, these drugs can not be used.
Ergotamine with migraine
On the basis of ergotamine, the following drugs exist: kaginergin, gynofort, neoginophor, ergormar, sekabrevin, akliman. These funds are most effective if taken at the beginning of the pain syndrome. Ergotamine also has a vasoconstrictor effect. It can not be used for a long time, as it can become addictive. Most often, ergotamine is prescribed in combination with other drugs - for example, caffeine.