Headache Medications: Pros and Cons
Most of the time, these drugs can be taken at doses MUCH LOWER than doses used for other problems. Unfortunately, some people are frightened of headache medications and will refuse to even try them, believing they will get every side effect listed. Let's review the most commonly used prescription drugs from a sensible point of view, OK?
This is probably the most effective class of drugs for lowering frequency and pain level of headaches. I have used the drugs I discuss on thousands (!) of patients and am pretty familiar with how the patients respond. These drugs are appropriate for you if: 1. You have 1 or 2 severe, disabling headaches per month and/or.. 2. You have 2 to 3 headaches per week. The most effective drugs for headache are as follows:
Almost 85% of all chronic pain patients have depression and/or anxiety to some degree.
Chronic illness
such as fibromyalgia, MS, diabetes, and headaches can all lead to depression if the condition is more than six months old.
More about the impact of depression on headaches.
Botox for migraine
is an exciting newer option for you if you have migraines that have failed to respond to the above options.Discuss this with your doctor and find a clinician skilled in doing Botox.
Ultram for headache.
Many times these medications are handed out by well meaning health care professionals to try and treat a patient in acute pain of headache. Unfortunately, too many times patients become addicted to these drugs as the headaches become worse and worse. Using these types of headache medications more than three times per week for headaches can actually make the headache syndrome WORSE!
The most promising in the class currently for headaches are Seroquel and Zyprexa and once again I use very low doses.
For severe migraines during pregancy, beta-blockers in very low doses can be effective. The important thing to remember when pregnant and considering a drug, is that severe pain, nausea and vomiting is not good for you or the baby. Pain raises adrenaline levels, causing an increase in blood pressure and repetative vomiting causes dehydration. It is best to treat the headaches and keep you and your baby healthy.
The most commonly used drug for headaches is verapamil and is not used in higher doses for migraine as it is for cluster headaches. Like the beta-blockers, this drug has the potential to lower your blood pressure and in addition may cause constipation.
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