Migraine
Migraine, a disorder of the brain and nervous system, manifests primarily as intense headaches. These headaches occur repeatedly in episodes lasting from 4 to 72 hours and are accompanied by symptoms such as nausea and sensitivity to light.
Characterized by throbbing and pulsing head pain, migraines typically affect one side of the head. The headache phase lasts for at least four hours, but can extend for days, exacerbated by physical activity, bright lights, loud noises, and strong odors.Migraines disrupt daily routines and can impede personal and social obligations. However, treatment options are available to help manage migraine symptoms.
Migraines present in various forms, with the most common categories being:
- Migraine with aura (classic migraine).
- Migraine without aura (common migraine).
Aura precedes the onset of head pain in some migraines.
Other types of migraines include:
- Migraines in children (abdominal migraine).
- Chronic migraine.
- Hemiplegic migraine.
- Menstrual migraine.
- Migraine without headache (silent migraine).
- Retinal migraine (ocular migraine).
- Status migrainosus.
These classifications capture the diverse manifestations of migraines experienced by individuals.
There are four stages of a migraine:
Prodrome: This initial phase occurs up to 24 hours before the headache begins.
Aura: A warning phase characterized by sensory, motor, or speech symptoms preceding or occurring concurrently with the headache. Aura can last from 5 to 60 minutes.
Headache: The migraine headache phase, lasting from 4 to 72 hours.
Postdrome: Following the headache, this phase, akin to a migraine hangover, can persist for several hours up to 48 hours.
These stages typically unfold over a period ranging from eight to 72 hours.
While there’s no cure for migraines, healthcare providers offer strategies to manage symptoms, such as:
Medications: Both for stopping acute migraines when they occur and for preventing them from happening frequently.
Avoiding triggers known to induce migraines.
Exploring alternative remedies.
Medications for migraines fall into two categories:
Medications to stop migraines: These are taken at the onset of symptoms to alleviate pain, nausea, and sensitivity. Examples include Triptans, Ditans, Gepants, Dihydroergotamine, and certain antiemetic medications.
Medications to prevent migraines: Prescribed for those experiencing severe symptoms or frequent migraines, these drugs reduce the frequency and severity of attacks. Common preventive medications include antiseizure drugs, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, monoclonal antibodies, tricyclic antidepressants, and serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors.
These medications come in various forms, such as subcutaneous injections, oral tablets, nasal sprays, intravenous infusions, and suppositories.