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Preventing Migraines with Lamotrigine: What you need to know

Published on: April 30, 2012 6:00 am

For preventing migraines with antiepileptic drugs, Lamotrigine a healthier alternative to Topamax, as it causes fewer cognitive problems like brain fog, memory loss, and low concentration. Still, it’s important to use any migraine drug with caution. Here are some facts about Lamotrigine as migraine prophylaxis.

Who uses Lamotrigine?

Lamotrigine (LTG) is an anticonvulsive drug approved by the FDA for treating epilepsy and bipolar disorder.

Lamotrigine is also prescribed for:

Migraine headaches
Clinical depression
Peripheral neuropathy
Cluster headaches
Trigeminal neuralgia
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Borderline personality disorder

Lamotrigine (LTG) is a nonenzyme inducing AED with favorable pharmacokinetics, approved for use by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in epilepsy as well as bipolar disorder

Overcoming Social Isolation in Migraine Disorder

Lamotrigine Side Effects

Despite its effectiveness in preventing migraines, Lamotrigine carries several FDA warnings. Contact your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following:

Life-threatening skin rashes (Stevens–Johnson syndrome, DRESS syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis)
Headache
Severe allergic reactions
Photophobia (sensitivity to light)
Chest pain
Neck stiffness
Difficulty breathing
Shortness of breath
Irregular heartbeat
Swollen hands and feet
Seizures
Loss of consciousness

Other side effects include:

Unusual changes in menstruation
Stomach pain
Dizziness
Anxiety attacks
Mood changes
Suicidal tendencies
Fever
Chronic sore throat
Severe muscle pain
Blurred vision
Uncontrolled eye movements
Double vision
Constipation
Diarrhea
Vomiting
Fatigue
Nausea
Feebleness
Decreased coordination
Loss of concentration
Sleep difficulties

Natural migraine ingredients

More migraine patients today opt for natural migraine ingredients for increased well-being and neurological health.
Current research indicates that fixed doses of natural supplements like magnesium, riboflavin, coenzyme Q10, and butterbur are more than 50% effective in improving neurological health and blood flow to the brain.

Recently, the American Academy of Neurology released new guidelines for treating episodic migraines that confirm these results.

Please tell us…

Do you currently use antiepileptic drugs for migraines? If so, have you experienced any of the side effects described above?

Do you have any questions or suggestions? Please leave your comments below.

Share with your friends!

If you found this article helpful, then please share with your friends, family, and coworkers by email, Facebook, or Google+.

Sources:

Lamotrigine: MedlinePlus Drug Information

New Guidelines: Treatments Can Help Prevent Migraine — American Academy of Neurology

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zeathiel, tinpalace

Tags: Natural Migraine Treatments

5 Migraine Misconceptions you shouldn’t believe

Published on: April 25, 2012 3:30 am

People have a lot of theories on ways to relieve migraine headaches, and while some work, many are based on misconceptions about migraines. In coping with chronic headaches, it’s important to be able to sift the facts from the fiction. Here are 15 common fallacies about migraines:

Migraine Myth #1: Migraines are just really strong headaches.

Any chronic migraine sufferer can attest to the fact that migraine symptoms involve more than excruciatingly strong headaches. For many, severe nausea, cyclical vomiting, stomach cramps, photophobia, vertigo, stroke-like symptoms, and visual disturbances occur prior to or during a migraine attack. Because of its debilitating nature, migraine disorder can destroy the quality of life for its sufferers, creating feelings of depression, anxiety, despair, and anger.

Unlike common headaches, chronic migraine headaches can make it impossible to hold a job, care for yourself, or perform simple household duties. For that reason, the ADA accepts migraine disorder as a disability qualified for compensation.

Social Security Disability for Migraine- 5 Tips for Filing

Migraine Myth #2: Alternative treatments for migraines are a waste of time and money.

Actually, modern medicine has been slowly incorporating alternative medicine alongside conventional treatments like drugs, physical therapy, and psychotherapy. This is especially true regarding chronic pain disorders such as migraines and fibromyalgia.

Popular natural ingredients for migraines include:

Vitamins and herbs, such as butterbur, vitamin B2 (riboflavin), coenzyme Q10, and magnesium
Acupuncture
Biofeedback
Meditation
Tai chi
Yoga
Oxygen therapy
Restrictive dieting

Cure Migraines with Functional Medicine; Part 1

Migraine Myth #3: If OTC pain relievers like Excedrin help, then your migraines can’t be that bad.

Swallowing over-the-counter pills like Excedrin for migraines or Advil can have bad side effects. For one, NSAIDs often cause rebound headaches. Over time, frequent use of OTC pain relievers can take its toll on your digestive system, liver, and kidneys, in addition to causing tinnitus (ear ringing).

Migraine Myth #4: Only middle-aged women get migraines.

While it’s true that women are three times more likely to suffer from migraines than are men, it’s important to recognize that millions of men get migraines as well, and that often age doesn’t play an important factor. It’s not unusual for migraineurs to experience their first migraine attack before entering high school or college.

12 Ways to spread Migraine Awareness without saying a Word

Migraine Myth #5: Migraine sufferers who complain are just attention seekers or lazy.

Contrary to popular belief, chronic pain sufferers don’t want to be in the spotlight. Far from it, many migraine patients resort to the “grin and bear it” strategy, rather than have to ask for help or make any mention of their agony. This kind of approach is actually detrimental, because they end up not getting the help they need, for fear of being called “weak” or worse, a hypochondriac.

35 Things you should never tell a Chronic Migraine Sufferer

Please tell us…

Can you think of any more migraine myths that you would like to add?

Do you have any questions or suggestions? Please leave your comments below.

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Sources:

Chronic Pain Myths

Myths About Treating Chronic Pain

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psyberartist, Venture Vancouver, Colin_K

Tags: Migraines

Here Comes a Migraine Attack- 20 Telltale Signs

Published on: April 24, 2012 2:00 am

Whether you suffer from migraines with aura or chronic migraine headaches, there’s nothing more dreadful than being caught in a migraine attack unawares. By recognizing the migraine headache symptoms early on, you give yourself a chance to take your migraine medication and hopefully nip this one in the bud, or at least tone the headache down a notch.

Here are 20 symptoms associated with migraine attacks, beginning with the most obvious:

1. Pounding headache– Many non-migraineurs mistakenly think that migraines are just really strong headaches that happen more often than standard everyday headaches. Nothing could be further from the truth! While tense muscles cause stress headaches, migraine headaches are neurologically-based, and much more difficult to treat.

A common headache may last for hours, but a migraine attack can last for days, with little time to recover between episodes.

When a migraine attack strikes, it is usually accompanied by a host of other debilitating symptoms like nausea, feebleness, dizziness, vomiting, and sometimes paralysis.

2. Sharp pain in the eyes, in addition to neck and shoulder pain

3. Tinnitus (ear ringing)

4. Painful tingling and numbness (pins and needles)

5. Aura- bright, colorful lights, sometimes in a crescent shape, sometimes flickering or oscillating

6. Impaired vision, including double vision, blurriness, voids, or blind spots

7. Sensory overload- hypersensitivity to bright lights, strong scents, and loud noises

8. Olfactory hallucination, the sensation of smelling unusual scents which aren’t present, like burnt paper, smoke, or rot

9. Alice in Wonderland syndrome- distorted sense of spatial awareness and passage of time, in addition to vertigo

10. Runny nose and watery eyes

11. Immense fatigue, constant yawning, and exhaustion that is not relieved with sleep

12. Hot flashes

13. Sudden speech slurring, similar to stroke symptoms

14. Temporary partial paralysis, also similar to stroke

15. Exertion headache resulting from light exercise , coughing, or sneezing

16. Moodiness, similar to bipolar disorder- shifting between elation and deep depression

17. Strong food cravings

18. Increased need to urinate

19. Severe stomach cramps, nausea, and vomiting

20. Prolonged hangover following migraine, often requiring several days of recuperation

Please tell us…

Have you experienced any symptoms not included in this article?

Do you have any questions or suggestions? Please leave your comments below.

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Curing Migraines with Functional Medicine; Part 2

Published on: April 23, 2012 2:00 am

Part 1 of Curing Migraines with Functional Medicine discussed migraine headaches in the presence of magnesium deficiency. In functional medicine, another possible cause for migraine headaches is mitochondrial disorder, a condition affected by Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and other essential migraine nutrients.

Mitochondria make energy

The mitochondria are structures in your cells that are responsible for taking fat, protein, and starches from food and converting them into energy. Your body uses the product, ATP, as its fuel to perform many important biological functions.

With mitochondrial disorder, your body doesn’t get enough energy to carry out everyday tasks, and you suffer symptoms like fatigue, muscular aches, brain fog, and sometimes, chronic headaches.

If necessary, your doctor may order a urine sample to diagnose mitochondrial disorder.

Mitochondrial disorder

Many health experts believe that the following illnesses are linked with mitochondrial dysfunction:

Migraine headaches
Autism
Fibromyalgia
Chronic fatigue
Anxiety disorder
Depression
Irritable bowel syndrome
Cyclical vomiting syndrome
Seizures
ADHD

What causes mitochondrial imbalances?

There are many possible reasons for migraines from mitochondrial disorder to occur; the most common are:

Malnutrition
Environmental toxins, such as metals or chemicals
Viral infection
Irregular oxidation rate
Lifestyle choices, such as inactivity and a diet consisting of high sugar, saturated fats, alcohol, and refined flours

Natural migraine tactics

Based on a functional medicine approach, doctors recommend the following for migraines and other illnesses caused by poor mitochondria health:

Coenzyme Q10 – CoQ10 is the most prescribed nutrients for mitochondrial health, particularly in migraines. Numerous scientific studies, such as this one on coenzyme Q10 confirms that CoQ10 is crucial for maintaining cellular health with no negative side effects, a boon for migraine patients. Recommended dose is 150-600mg of coenzyme Q10 per day. (For more, read Coenzyme Q10 Benefits and Dosage Information
Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) – B vitamins play an important role in neurological health. Migraine specialists recommend at least 400mg of riboflavin per day for maximum migraine health.
Folic acid – Another essential B vitamin for migraines and mitochondrial disorder is folate.
Cobalamin (Vitamin B12) – Vitamin B12 is vital for maintaining the myelin sheathe which protects your nervous system.
Pyridoxine (Vitamin B6) – Vitamin B6 works with vitamin B12 in boosting neurological health.
Vitamin D – Although we absorb vitamin D via sunlight, many of us still do not get enough of this necessary nutrient. Recommended dose is 60-100mg
Zinc – healthy trace metals like zinc are also beneficial for mitochondrial functioning.
Omega-3 fatty acids – If mitochondrial disorder is caused by poor diet, then supplementing with healthy fatty acids is crucial for healing
Antioxidants – Mitochondria are essential for protecting your cells from free radicals. With mitochondria disorder, it is necessary to eat a diet rich in antioxidants. For migraineurs, good options are wild blueberries, artichoke, apples, pecans, potatoes, and berries.
Herbs and seasonings – Butterbur, rosemary, cloves, turmeric, ginger, oregano, and cilantro are all beneficial for mitochondrial health and migraine prevention.
Exercise – Including at least 20-30 minutes of exercise per day is helpful for boosting mitochondrial health, relieving stress, increasing energy, and preventing migraine headaches.
Avoid environmental toxins- Mercury, pesticides, air pollution, preservatives, harsh cleansers, and nonstick cookware all contribute to mitochondrial illness and migraine triggers.

Please tell us…

Have you tested for mitochondrial disorder as a possible explanation for migraines? Have you tried all the suggestions listed for natural nutrients for migraine headaches?

Do you have any questions or suggestions? Please leave your comments below.

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Cure Migraines with Functional Medicine; Part 1

Published on: April 19, 2012 3:14 am

Finding the right treatment for migraines is all about looking past the symptoms. Yes, migraine symptoms are debilitating and horrific- sharp, pounding headaches, nausea, fatigue, vertigo- but in order to get to the root cause of your migraines, you need to find a doctor who is willing to be your medical detective. That’s where functional medicine practitioners, such as the famed health expert Dr. Mark Hyman, can help.

What is functional medicine?

Functional medicine is a practical, investigative-type approach to medicine. Rather than simply treating the symptoms of chronic illnesses such as migraines, functional medicine doctors find out what’s causing your headaches and eliminate the threat.

By listening to the patient, examining her medical records, running necessary tests, and paying attention to oft-overlooked factors like diet, environment, comorbid ailments, and genetics, functional medicine practitioners are able to prescribe a multipronged approach that includes total body health.

Functional medicine doesn’t cure the disease- it cures the patient.

Here are some ways that functional medicine aids migraine sufferers:

Magnesium

Magnesium is used in hospitals for a wide range of health benefits; magnesium is an emergency room staple used for cardiovascular health, relief of occasional constipation, and to alleviate minor aches and pains associated with daily life.

Magnesium deficiency is a growing crisis for several reasons:

One, we just don’t eat enough foods that contain magnesium. Seaweed, dandelion greens, and fatty nuts are just not staples in the American diet.
Second, we are unknowingly depleting our migraine levels by mass-consuming foods that drain magnesium from our bodies. Sodas, sugar, coffee, salt, and alcohol all contribute to magnesium deficiency.
Other causes for magnesium deficiency that apply to migraine sufferers include chronic diarrhea, vomiting, PMS, and emotional stress.
Third, our current method of testing for magnesium deficiency, blood tests, is highly inefficient and inconclusive. So, even if a magnesium deficiency test comes out negative, you could still be suffering from symptoms of severely low magnesium levels.

Magnesium- for Migraines and Beyond

What are the symptoms of magnesium deficiency?

A long list of ailments indicates possible magnesium deficiency. They include:

Migraine headaches
Muscle cramps
Fibromyalgia
Hypersensitivity to loud noises
Anxiety disorder
Moodiness
Chronic fatigue
High blood pressure
Irregular heartbeat
Digestive disorders

Brain Drain from Migraines…What’s Causing it?

Magnesium benefits

In cases where magnesium deficiency correlates with migraines, magnesium supplementation produces excellent results. Always consult a doctor before trying a new migraine regimen, including natural supplements.

Take 400-1,000mg of magnesium supplements.
Try to include magnesium-rich foods in your diet, like kelp, dark leafy greens, nuts, avocados, wheat bran, and beans.
Soak in a bath filled with Epson salts.

Please tell us…

Which treatments do you currently use for migraines? Are you satisfied, or would you like to find something more efficient without all the side effects? Do you have any questions or suggestions? Please leave your comments below.

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Conquer Allergies and Migraine Headaches with Butterbur- a Migraineur’s Best Friend

Published on: April 17, 2012 5:55 am

Do you tremble at the sight of drifting pollen? Don’t let allergies and migraine headaches keep you from enjoying the spring sunshine…learn more about the beneficial properties of butterbur root for migraines and allergy symptoms.

Butterbur for migraines

Butterbur (Petasites hybridus) is a shrubbery that grows in wet, marshy areas throughout Europe and parts of Asia. Historically, doctors have often included butterbur in the presence of migraine symptoms, including headache, digestive disorders, spasms, and anxiety (often correlated with migraines).

More recently, various scientific placebo-controlled studies have confirmed the effectiveness of butterbur supplements in promoting neurological health.

Scientists explain that butterbur blocks inflammatory chemicals leukotriene and prostaglandin E2, in addition to acting as a natural calcium channel blocker, both of which are conducive to nerve health.

Butterbur for allergic rhinitis

For some, allergy symptoms trigger migraine headaches. If itchy, watery eyes and sinus congestion exacerbate migraines, then that is extra reason to include butterbur as a natural migraine ingredient. Butterbur root and leaves have been used for centuries to treat nasal stuffiness, cough, bronchial asthma, and allergic skin reactions.

Springtime for Migraine Sufferers- 8 Tips for Dealing with Pollen

Caution

Raw, untreated butterbur extracts contain pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), a toxic compound that can cause liver damage. Only purchase butterbur supplements that carry a PA-free label, ensuring that they were processed for removal of pyrrolizidine alkaloids.
PA-free butterbur is as safe for migraine patients of all ages as prescribed and OTC migraine treatments, if not safer.
Butterbur is cousin to flowers like marigolds, daisies, and chrysanthemums; if you are allergic, then proceed with caution.
Always consult your doctor before starting any new migraine treatment.

Butterbur Supplements for Migraines- Are they Safe?

Please tell us…

Do you currently use antihistamines for treating migraines and allergies? Have you noticed any uncomfortable side effects, like sluggishness or memory loss?

Do you have any questions or suggestions? Please leave your comments below.

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Beyond Botox: Cure Migraine Headaches with a Facelift!

Published on: April 16, 2012 3:08 am

If you’ve tried everything else to get rid of migraine headaches– to relieve the throbbing pain, vomiting, eye sensitivity, and migraine aura symptoms- then you might just need a facelift. According to recent reports, migraine sufferers who receive reconstructive surgery, such as a forehead lift or eyelift, see at least a 60% reduction in migraine headache pain.

So, you could get rid of the migraine and the crow’s feet at the same time!

Plastic surgery for migraine headaches

The first plastic surgeon to try nerve decompression surgery for relieving migraines was Bahman Guyuron, MD of University Hospitals Case Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio. He noticed that migraine patients, months after receiving a forehead lift, often experienced a wonderful bonus in addition to their smoother, fresher face- a complete cessation of migraine headaches.

Twelve years later, Dr. Guyuron still practices this procedure on migraine sufferers. By focusing on muscles and nerves surrounding specific migraine trigger points on the head, Guyuron has successfully reduced migraine headaches in approximately 88% of his patients, while 30% say that their chronic headaches have completely disappeared.

As research grows, more plastic surgeons are employing this method for curing migraines. This Boston Globe article on plastic surgery for migraines describes how one migraine sufferer received permanent relief from migraine pain.

Deep Brain Stimulation for Migraine Headaches- Is it safe?

Who’s entitled to migraine surgery?

Facelift surgery for relieving migraines is still a new concept, and has only been tested on small groups. Because more years of testing are required, very few migraine sufferers qualify for nerve decompression surgery. Furthermore, migraine surgery is only recommended as last alternative, after all other migraine treatments have failed, and only if migraine headaches are debilitating to the point of interfering with your quality of life.

What other options are available?

Opponents to migraine surgery say that patients are often not warned of potential side effects like infection, loss of blood, paralysis, skin rash, and hair loss.

Some neurologists worry that migraineurs may make the hasty decision to undergo permanent surgical procedures before trying natural ingredients and therapies for migraines, such as exercise, acupuncture, relaxation, and supplements.

Please tell us…

Would you consider having forehead lift surgery to relieve migraines? Have you exhausted all other migraine therapies?

Do you have any questions or suggestions? Please leave your comments below.

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Migraine Headaches- Top 7 FAQ’s

Published on: April 10, 2012 3:41 am

Migraine headaches strike millions of migraineurs, but many people don’t understand why they occur or how to stop the debilitating migraine attacks. Here are some of the top FAQ’s regarding migraine headaches.

1) What are migraine headaches?

Migraines are a debilitating neurological illness that involves the nerve muscles and blood vessels in your head, causing severe, excruciating headaches and a multitude of other disabling symptoms. Migraine attacks can occur at any time, and may last for several hours or days.

People who suffer from migraines (migraineurs) often experience their first migraine headache in childhood. For some, migraines disappear for many years, only to return later in life. For most, the pain is constant.

Since migraines are difficult to treat, chronic migraine patients usually cope with them their entire lives.

2) What are all the symptoms of migraines?

Besides throbbing, severe headache, migraineurs may also experience:

Shooting pain behind the eye
Extreme sensitivity to bright lights, sounds, and scents
Severe stomach cramps
Chronic vomiting
Chronic diarrhea
Fatigue
Vertigo (dizziness)
Tinnitus (ear ringing)

3) What are migraines with aura?

Migraines are separated into two main categories: migraines with aura, and migraines without aura.

A migraine aura is a phase that precedes a migraine attack, and may occur as little as thirty minutes before the migraine strikes. “Alice in Wonderland syndrome,” as noted by the famous author, who also suffered from migraines with aura, causes unusual, hallucinatory sensations, in addition to nausea, vomiting, and stroke-like symptoms. Read When Migraine Aura with Aphasia leaves you Lost for Words

Migraine with aura symptoms may include:

Distorted sense of time and spatial awareness
Vertigo (dizziness)
Bright, flickering lights in peripheral vision
Crescent-shaped light hallucination
Blind spot in peripheral vision
Olfactory hallucinations (strange scents)
Tinnitus (ear ringing)
Partial paralysis in upper torso
Numbness and tingling
Speech difficulties
Temporary loss of consciousness
Weakness
Fatigue
Nausea
Recurrent vomiting
Stomach cramps
Diarrhea

4) What are migraine triggers?

Migraine triggers are any factor that contributes to the occurrence and frequency of migraine headaches. While one migraine trigger probably won’t “cause migraines,” an onslaught of migraine triggers can collectively create an environment in your nervous system often referred to as the “migraine brain.” Read Avoiding Migraine Triggers- Here, There and Everywhere

By keeping a migraine diary, and sharing it with your doctor, you can effectively determine which factors most often trigger your migraines. Some migraine triggers cannot be avoided, but an effort must be made to reduce migraine triggers to an absolute minimum, whenever possible.

Common migraine triggers are:

Food, including red wine, beer, chocolate, red-skinned fruits, aged cheese and meats, fermented foods, yeasted breads, gluten, dairy, cold foods, and nightshade vegetables
Strong scents, like perfumes and cut grass
Allergies
Bright lights, fluorescent light bulbs, stark white backgrounds, and black/white lined patterns
Weather changes
Hormonal changes
Stress
Changes in sleep cycles
Changes in eating patterns
Altitude

5) Should I see a doctor?

Absolutely- if chronic headaches are occurring, then you must have tests done to ascertain that there is no life-threatening illness or damage, such as brain tumor or stroke.

If possible, seek a neurologist who specializes in migraines or another migraine headache specialist. Read What kind of Doctor should I see for Migraines? Neurologists

6) What migraine medications are available?

There are difference classifications of migraine medications- some treat the head pain itself, some “abort” the migraine attack if caught in time, and others prevent migraines from occurring.

Convention migraine treatments vary according to symptoms, but many such as Topamax may include uncomfortable side effects like nausea, short-term memory loss, brain fog, and…headaches. Read Are You on the Rebound with Your Headache?

7) Which natural ingredients are good for migraines?

A number of complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs) for migraines have been tested in clinical trials and found to be extremely helpful . For more info, read Natural Supplements and Herbs for migraines

Natural migraine ingredients include:

Magnesium
Butterbur extract
Riboflavin (vitamin B2)
Coenzyme Q10

Please tell us…

Do you have any more questions about migraines? Please leave your comments below!

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Migraine Dieting with Gluten-Free Foods: Is it Necessary?

Published on: April 2, 2012 3:10 am

Following a migraine diet is essential for recognizing migraine triggers and preventing migraine headaches. As more people are adopting gluten-free dieting a means of relieving chronic pain symptoms, you might be wondering what all the hoopla is about, and if you should consider dropping gluten from your migraine diet. Here are some basic facts to consider before chucking your daily bread out the window.

What is gluten?

Gluten is a protein that occurs naturally in grains like barley, wheat, and rye. Most baked goods contain gluten, but it’s also sometimes a hidden ingredient or cross-contamination in many packaged snacks, condiments, and mixes.

Symptoms of gluten intolerance

Below are some common symptoms of gluten intolerance. Some of them are very similar to migraine symptoms. Do you suffer from any of these?

Chronic headache
Moodiness
Irritability
Depression
Fatigue
Diarrhea
Flatulence
Bloating
Stomach cramps
Nausea
Weight loss
Sore joints
Painful tingling and numbness
Eczema

The Do-it-Yourself Migraine Detox Diet: What to Expect

Do you have celiac?

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that causes headaches, chronic pain, and fatigue, in addition to severe damage to the digestive system. Today, a simple blood test can diagnose celiac disease by detecting the presence of a gluten-reactive antibody.

Non-celiac gluten sensitivity

Not being diagnosed with celiac disease does not rule out the possibility of gluten sensitivity. Because the symptoms of gluten intolerance are so similar to those of migraines (headache, depression, stomach problems), they can easily slip past the radar when they occur at the same time as chronic migraines.

It could be the yeast.

Before making gluten a banned substance in your migraine diet, it’s important to recognize that yeast might be a culprit in causing your headaches. Many yeasted foodstuffs like breads, yeasted cakes, and beer sometimes trigger migraines, while non-yeasted gluten-containing foods may cause no reaction whatsoever.

Keep a migraine diary.

Still think that gluten is causing your migraines? The best way to be certain is to keep a migraine diary. Log in important info like what foods you ate, when you ate them, and what your mood was at the time. Keep track of your headaches, including the time they occur, how long they last, and which medications you used to treat them.

How to Make a Migraine Headache Diary

After a few months, your migraine diary can become a valuable tool for recognizing migraine triggers, including food triggers, and weeding them out of your life.

Control your migraine triggers

In addition to using a migraine diet to manage headaches, consider these other tips:

Exercise
Drink water
Eat at regular intervals
Sleep 8 hours at nighttime, only
Treat sinus congestion
Experiment with natural ingredients, including vitamins and herbs.

Please tell us…

Have you been able to control migraines by following a special migraine diet? If so, do you include gluten-free dieting?

Do you have any questions or suggestions? Please leave your comments below.

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Over-the-Counter Migraine Drugs- What are the Risks?

Published on: March 29, 2012 4:51 am

Coming soon to a pharmacy near you- migraine medications that can be purchased without a prescription. Over-the-counter (OTC) migraine drugs are on a list of other prescription medications included in the FDA’s newest proposal regarding nonprescription drugs.

Over-the-Counter Migraine Drugs? Better be nice to your Pharmacist

What are the benefits and risks?

The benefits of making more drugs like migraine treatments available without prescription are obvious- it’s more convenient, easier, and possibly quicker to pop into your local drugstore and pick up a bottle of migraine drugs. Will it be cheaper? It’s too soon to say.

But the risks seem to outweigh any possible benefits-

Whose job will it be to ensure that patients understand the drug manufacturer’s guidelines?
Will pharmacies be held responsible if a migraine headache sufferer overdoses on painkillers due to lack of instruction?
Will some sort of insurance be required on behalf of the pharmacist to ensure that such mistakes aren’t made?
Where do health insurance companies fit into this equation?
With the extent of responsibilities that pharmacists currently have, can they afford to take on the role of drug prescriber, as well?

Are Doctors Overprescribing Painkillers for Migraines? Fox News Report

Prevention first, prescriptions later

Whether these new migraine medication changes take place or not, it’s important to do what you can to reduce migraine triggers from the get-go, so that you won’t be overly dependent on prescription drugs.

Here are some tips for dealing with migraine attacks without drugs:

Do you log into a migraine diary?
Do you recognize all your potential migraine triggers, like food, scents, lights, and weather changes?
Do you take daily vitamins and minerals, like magnesium, riboflavin, and coenzyme Q10 for neurological health?
Do you incorporate relaxation techniques and low-impact exercise into your daily regimen?
Do you participate in a migraine patient forum or support group?

Please tell us…

Do you have any questions or suggestions? Please leave your comments below.

Share with your friends!

If you found this article helpful, then please share with your friends, family, and coworkers by email, Facebook, or Google+.

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Who uses Lamotrigine?

Lamotrigine Side Effects

Natural migraine ingredients

Read more about natural migraine prevention:

Please tell us…

Share with your friends!

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Share with your friends!

Read more about migraine symptoms

Mitochondria make energy

Mitochondrial disorder

What causes mitochondrial imbalances?

Natural migraine tactics

Please tell us…

Share with your friends!

Read more about migraine prevention:

What is functional medicine?

Magnesium

What are the symptoms of magnesium deficiency?

Magnesium benefits

Please tell us…

Share with your friends!

Read more about natural migraine cures:

Butterbur for migraines

Butterbur for allergic rhinitis

Caution

Please tell us…

Share with your friends!

Read more about natural migraine treatments

Plastic surgery for migraine headaches

Who’s entitled to migraine surgery?

What other options are available?

Please tell us…

Share with your friends!

Read more about preventing migraine headaches:

1) What are migraine headaches?

2) What are all the symptoms of migraines?

3) What are migraines with aura?

4) What are migraine triggers?

5) Should I see a doctor?

6) What migraine medications are available?

7) Which natural ingredients are good for migraines?

Please tell us…

Share with your friends!

Read more about migraine headaches:

What is gluten?

Symptoms of gluten intolerance

Do you have celiac?

Non-celiac gluten sensitivity

It could be the yeast.

Keep a migraine diary.

Control your migraine triggers

Please tell us…

Share with your friends!

Read more about nutrition and migraines

Sources:

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Share with your friends!

Read more about migraine management