It can be challenging to find an appropriate treatment and you may have spent years trying to find a way to make your migraine manageable. If you are struggling with chronic migraine speak to your GP, specialist or contact our Helpline. This is where acute treatments such as triptans or over-the-counter painkillers are taken on too many days of the month. They stop treating the head pain and start causing daily headaches. Managing medication overuse headache is important because if it is left untreated it can lead to preventive treatments being less effective.
It also has a negative impact on you and your quality of life. There is more information on medication overuse headache here. Chronic migraine is hugely debilitating, but there are treatments available that can help you to manage your symptoms.
In chronic migraine your doctor may want to do extra tests to rule out other potential causes of your symptoms. You may also be referred to a headache specialist to help with diagnosis or management of your symptoms. Treatment for chronic migraine usually involves different approaches including drug and non-drug options. However, most people with chronic migraine will need to take medication to help manage their symptoms. With the risk of medication overuse headache and the constant nature of chronic migraine it can be challenging to know when to take acute medicines to help with your migraine attacks.
When taking painkillers or triptans it can help to treat at the right time when the head pain starts. You should try not to take them on more than 2 days per week and avoid opiate based treatments such as codeine. You can take medication for any related symptoms such as anti-sickness medication. Preventive treatment aims to reduce how often you have migraine and how bad they are.
These are often needed in chronic migraine. There are different preventive treatments available. There are 4 main drug classes that GPs can prescribe as preventive treatments. These are beta-blockers, tricyclic antidepressants, anti-epilepsy drugs and the blood pressure tablet candesartan.
With oral preventives you usually start at a low dose and gradually increase. Some people may need to stay on a lower dose for longer and increase the dosage more gradually, if side effects develop. Medication is usually increased until it works, the side effects are too much or the maximum dose is reached. Around half of all people who experience migraines also have a close relative with the condition, suggesting that genes may play a role.
Some people find migraine attacks are associated with certain triggers, which can include:. There's no cure for migraines, but a number of treatments are available to help reduce the symptoms.
During an attack, many people find that sleeping or lying in a darkened room can also help. If you suspect a specific trigger is causing your migraines, such as stress or a certain type of food, avoiding this trigger may help reduce your risk of experiencing migraines.
It may also help to maintain a generally healthy lifestyle, including regular exercise, sleep and meals, as well as ensuring you stay well hydrated and limiting your intake of caffeine and alcohol. If your migraines are severe or you have tried avoiding possible triggers and are still experiencing symptoms, a GP may prescribe medicines to help prevent further attacks. Medicines used to prevent migraines include the anti-seizure medicine topiramate and a medicine called propranolol that's usually used to treat high blood pressure.
Migraines can severely affect your quality of life and stop you carrying out your normal daily activities. But a number of effective treatments are available to reduce the symptoms and prevent further attacks.
Migraine attacks can sometimes get worse over time, but they tend to gradually improve over many years for most people. Page last reviewed: 10 May Next review due: 10 May In: Clinical Neurology. McGraw Hill; Ha H, et al.
Migraine headache prophylaxis. American Family Physician. Kissoon NR expert opinion. Mayo Clinic. March 16, Preventive treatment of episodic migraine in adults. Kleinman K, et al. In: Harriet Lane Handbook. Elsevier; Taylor FR. ABC's of headache trigger management. American Migraine Foundation. Migraine adult adjunctive therapy adult.
Mayo Clinic; Integrative and complementary migraine treatments. Riggin EA. Allscripts EPSi. Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. March 1, FDA approves new treatment for patients with migraine. Food and Drug Administration. Accessed April 20, Migraines and gastrointestinal problems: Is there a link? Migraines and Vertigo Migraines: Are they triggered by weather changes?
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