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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.

What’s on the table?

According to research presented by the FDA, approximately 20% of all patients (migraine headache and other chronic headache patients, for example) never get their prescriptions filled.  Either they don’t have the money to get their meds, or they don’t have insurance coverage.  Time required to visit a doctor is another factor that prevents many people from getting migraine treatments.

The FDA is proposing a plan to make it easier for chronic pain patients to get the medicine they so badly need.  By switching the status of certain migraine drugs from prescription-only to OTC, the FDA hopes to make it easier and cheaper for people to manage their migraines.

Which medicines are included?

Drugs that may become available over the counter include medications for migraines, hypertension, asthma, and high cholesterol.  Also under consideration are birth control pills.

While some migraine drugs will make a direct transition to OTC, other medications may require an initial doctor’s prescription, with the option of refilling at any pharmacy thereafter.

“What we are asking is, should there be more flexibility in the concept of nonprescription drugs? Can we broaden the assistance a consumers gets and increase the types of medicines that might be available over-the-counter.” – Janet Woodcock, M.D., director, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research

Aren’t pharmacists overworked already?

This new proposal will take patient-care responsibilities away from your headache specialist’s office and directly into the lap of your nearest pharmacist.

Here are some important points to consider:

• Currently, only medicines for conditions that can be self-diagnosed easily are available without prescription.  Cold medicines, headache pain relievers, and antacids are among items that are available over the counter.
• The FDA wants to expand its list of OTC medicines to include migraine drugs that require monitoring.  The only difference is that pharmacists will be placed in the position of assisting you, the migraine patient, with your drug purchases.
• Certain migraine medications may be available only after speaking to your pharmacist.  Does that mean that a pharmacist will have the power to refuse certain painkillers?
• The FDA is suggesting implementing modern-day technologies like pharmacy kiosks and online questionnaires in helping migraine drug users select the right item for their symptoms.  Who will be responsible for helping you make those choices, and ensuring that you understand all drug warnings and restrictions?  Your pharmacist.
• For millions of chronic migraine, asthma, cholesterol, and hypertension patients, this new FDA proposal will result in less time under the care of a qualified physician, and more time being waited on by a drugstore pharmacist.

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+.

Read more about migraine medications

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Migraine Headache Painkiller Mistakes we sometimes make

Coenzyme Q10 Benefits and Dosage Information

Sources:

FDA Considers Expanding Definition of Nonprescription Drugs

Images: Ephemeral Scraps

Guess what- spring came early this year!  What’s a migraine sufferer to do?  With fluffy pollen and migraine triggering flowery scents wafting through the air, spring season translates into migraine season.  Here are some tips for nipping those sinus headaches in the (rose) bud!

Is it global warming coming to fruition?  Don’t know, but  experts warn that this year, allergy season could last an extra month…that’s one more month of migraines triggered by sinus headaches, fragrant flowers, and the scent of fresh-cut grass (yuck!).

Here are eight great tips for coping with springtime migraines:

1- Take your vitamins, minerals, and herbs

Your best line of defense against migraines during allergy season can be found in your medicine cabinet.  Build your immunity  by taking the full lineup of essential vitamins and minerals.

• Vitamin C helps maintain the body’s natural defenses.
• Magnesium impacts serotonin receptors.
• Vitamin B2 (riboflavin), one of many essential B vitamins, is effective at releasing muscular tension.
• Butterbur root maintains healthy lung function to improve respiratory health.
• Quercetin is a plant-based ingredient found in tea leaves that is helpful for respiratory health, promoting a healthy response to inflammation, and enhancing feelings of emotional well-being.

2- Shampoo, rinse, and repeat

You might not realize it, but your hair is a magnet for airborne pollen.  Every time you rest your head down on your pillow or brush your hair, you help to spread allergens throughout your home, and increase your chances of getting migraine attacks.  Wash your hair thoroughly every day, following the instructions on the bottle-shampoo, rinse, and repeat!

Keep a hairbrush in your mudroom or on the front porch, and give yourself a few swipes before entering the house.

3- Don’t forget Spot!

Now that your hair is clean and allergen-free, it’s time to wash the dog (or cat)! Pets love to roll around in the cool grass on a warm day, collecting dirt, pollen, leaves, and all kinds of questionable adornments that may give you headaches.  Keep your four-footed friends groomed, and remember to rinse their paws before coming into the home.

4- Dry clothes indoors

Air-drying your delicate linens is only a good idea if you don’t happen to be allergic to the air. If pollen and dust give you migraines, then hang your fine washables indoors, or use the gentle setting of your dryer.

Migraine Weather Triggers- Seasonal Migraines in the Fall

5- Wear your Migraine Glasses

It’s not summer yet, but that’s no reason not to wear your sunglasses.  Aside from reducing migraines by dimming bright lights, sunglasses also protect your sensitive eyes from dust, dirt, and pollen.

Lights…Camera…Migraine! 10 Curious Facts about Light Sensitivity

6- Hibernate

Stay indoors when pollen levels are high, typically in the early morning hours and on dry, windy days.  Visit the National Allergy Bureau to check up on pollen and mold counts in your area.  You can’t control the weather, but you can limit migraine triggers by thinking ahead!

7- Fans are not fantastic

Ceiling fans are great for saving money during the summer months, but in the springtime, you’re just spreading dust, mold, pollen, and other migraine-inducing chemicals around.  Whenever possible, opt for the AC, especially in your car.

13 Reasons your Migraines Hate the Summer Season

8- Copy the Chinese

Your feet track allergens, too!  Take off your shoes before entering the house, and ask that guests do the same.  Your carpet will stay clean longer, meaning fewer runs with the vacuum cleaner.  It’s a win-win habit for migraine sufferers!

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+.

Read more about migraine triggers:

Avoiding Migraine Triggers- Here, There and Everywhere

34 Migraine-Inducing, Stomach-Turning Toxic Chemicals in Perfume

Sources:

A Survival Guide to Spring Allergy Season

NAB Pollen Counts

Image attributions:

Franco Folini, geishaboy500, OakleyOriginals

Anger is a destructive, negative emotion that triggers migraines, in addition to harming your physical and mental health.  Hypertension, heart disease, and depression are all side effects of unresolved anger.  In managing your migraine triggers and reducing your number of migraine headaches, it is important to be able to recognize your anger style and nip it in the bud.

1- Chronic Anger

If you’re addicted to anger, you never miss an opportunity to provoke a fight.  You love the “high” you get from a good emotional roller coaster, and anger is your drug of choice.  You are offended easily and might explode into a tantrum at the drop of a hat.  For the most part, you may be triggering your own migraines, so it’s essential that you ask yourself before you get all riled up, ”Is this worth the migraine it’ll cost me?”

Help! Migraines are ruining my Relationships

2- Behavioral anger

Do you act out your anger?  People who let anger rule their behavior are often aggressive, and subject to fits of rage- sometimes resulting in physical abuse.  If migraines ever make you angry enough to lash out with friends or family, then it’s important to identify this style and anger and seek professional help.

3- Verbal anger

How do you express your anger…do you make sharp, cutting remarks, or yell obscenities?  Even if you would never raise your fist in anger, remember that verbal punches can hurt, too.  Next time you’re in the throes of a throbbing migraine headache that’s lasted for days, and somebody says or does something that really gets your goat, try to hold back your temper and your words, lest you ruin a valued relationship.

4- Shame-Based Anger

Over time, constant migraine headaches trigger depression, despair, and anguish in its sufferers.  Because chronic migraines interfere with your ability to work productively, socialize, or carry out basic tasks, you sometimes feel “broken” or worthless.  Feelings of guilt or inadequacy over cancelled appointments and missed birthdays because of migraine attacks may cause intense anger.  If you suspect that poor self-image is at the root of your anger issues, then own up to it.  Find out how other migraine patients cope with their chronic pain, and try to establish a healthier attitude towards yourself.

5- Unpredictable anger

Do you alternate from hot to cold, or have days when you are down in the dumps and others when you feel like you’re on top of the world?  Sometimes, anger erupts without following any pattern, fluctuating between mild annoyances to outright rage, depending on your mood.  Unpredictable anger and mood changes are sometimes comorbid conditions with migraine headaches.  Living with somebody who is a thunderstorm-waiting-to-happen can be stressful, even traumatic, so it’s important that you seek counseling.  By visiting a family or marital counselor and learning how to control your anger, you may save your relationships and your peace of mind while also preventing migraine attacks.

Please tell us…

Do you recognize any of the anger styles listed?  All in all, there are close to a dozen different anger styles that may trigger migraines.  Do you suffer from anger, and if so, how do you cope?

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+.

Read more about migraine triggers:

Avoiding Migraine Triggers- Here, There and Everywhere

Night Terrors, Migraines, and Insomnia- 7 Nightmare Headaches

34 Migraine-Inducing, Stomach-Turning Toxic Chemicals in Perfume

Sources:

What’s your anger management style?

Types of Anger: 12 Most Common Types of Anger

Migraine headaches can be excruciating to the point that you’ll stop at nothing short of reaching into your brain and groping around for the “off” switch.  Now, scientists hope to be able to cure migraines and other chronic headaches by doing just that.  Deep brain stimulation is currently being used to treat movement disorders multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease; still in it’s infancy stage is the possibility of using deep brain stimulation to treat migraine headaches, as well.

What is deep brain stimulation (DBS)?

Deep brain stimulation is a therapy that uses a battery-operated “neurostimulator” to treat certain areas of the brain with electrical impulses.

• First, a neurostimulator is surgically implanted under your skin around your collarbone, chest area, or stomach.  This device is similar to a pacemaker, and used to generate electrical shocks.
• Next, a thin wire extension is inserted under your skin, acting as a conduit between the neurostimulator and a small electrode.
• Finally, by drilling a small hole into the base of the skull, electrodes are embedded into your brain, where they transmit electric impulses to certain targeted areas.

Deep brain stimulation- who is it for?

All patients considering DBS must undergo an MRI or CT scan before surgery, in order to reduce the risk of post-op hemorrhaging and to determine which areas of the brain to target.

Currently, neurological clinics offering deep brain stimulation use it to treat people with severe movement disorders, such as multiple sclerosis, essential tremor, dystonia, and Parkinson’s disease.

While the FDA has approved the use of DBS for treating obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), that is still in an experimental stage.

Other illnesses that scientists hope to cure with deep brain stimulation include:

• Cluster headache
• Migraine headache
• Tourette’s
• Alzheimer’s disease
• Chronic back pain
• Severe depression
• Epilepsy
• Addiction

Only people with debilitating neurological impairments who have failed to respond to standard treatment are considered for deep brain stimulation.

Diagnosing Constant Migraines with a Lumbar Puncture (Spinal Tap) – What to Expect

Risk factors of deep brain stimulation

Deep brain stimulation is a form of brain surgery, so all standard risk factors apply.

• Approximately 2-3% of people who undergo DBS suffer a major brain hemorrhage as a result, causing paralysis, stroke, or permanent speech impairments.
• Approximately 15% of DBS patients suffer some minor or temporary ailment.
• Infection may occur, requiring a return to the hospital in order to remove electrodes.
• Today’s deep brain stimulation procedure is less risky than previous years’, which used to involve damaging certain areas of the brain.

Is DBS safe for treating migraines?

Yes and no.

People who qualify for deep brain stimulation surgery suffer from immense, debilitating chronic headaches that significantly reduce their quality of life and are otherwise incurable.

It can’t be stressed enough that DBS is meant to be used as a last resort, when all other attempts at managing migraine headaches have failed, including all prescription medications for migraines, alternative nutrients for migraines, and migraine management through diet, exercise, and relaxation.

Is it worth the gamble?  That question is up to you and your neurologist.  Three percent might seem like an insignificant risk, but it still implies that out of 100 people, three may incur serious and lasting brain damage.

For more information, see the Cleveland Clinic page on Deep Brain Stimulation.

Please tell us…

Would you consider participating in a study on deep brain stimulation for treating migraines, if asked?

Have you tried supplementing with nutrients for migraines, like magnesium,  butterbur, and riboflavin?

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+.

Read more about migraine symptoms:

Migraine Excitotoxins- What’s so exciting about them?

Brain Drain from Migraines…What’s Causing it?

Killer Migraines Might be Fatal after All- Mortality Rates among Migraine Sufferers

Sources:

What is deep brain stimulation?

Deep brain stimulation in headache

Deep Brain Stimulation is helping Chronic Cluster Patients

Chronic pain, including migraines, can strain even the closest relationships. Learning how to manage migraine headache symptoms without alienating your friends and family is a difficult, but worthwhile, mission that all migraine patients need to learn.  Here are some strategies that will make that task a bit easier to accomplish.

Don’t get migraine trigger-happy

Migraines are a loaded gun, and sometimes you’re tempted to aim them at your closest friends.  You’re not alone in this sentiment- almost every chronic pain patient has had the frustrating experience of trying to explain to deaf ears the concept of migraine triggers and the excruciating headaches they cause…not to mention the eye pain, nausea, stomach cramps, vomiting, vertigo, and countless other migraine attack symptoms that apply.

There is hope.

Here are some expert tips on keeping relationships close while keeping migraines very far away…

Choose your words

Migraines are one aspect of your life that will always need explaining.  Whether it’s a missed lunch date or showing up to work an hour late because of migraines, there will be many scenarios in your relationships where you’ll feel pressured to find the right words to explain chronic pain without offending or disappointing others- a difficult task when you’re in the middle of a stage 3 migraine attack.

Instead of just “winging it” and risking losing your job and your friends, plan what you’re going to say in each social situation:

• To your loved ones, be honest.  Explain to them that you suffer from immense pain, and that you struggle with feelings of anger, depression, and despair.  Or, talk to a therapist about how migraines affect your relationships.  Either way, you have to find a release for your emotional suffering, lest it come out in an angry outburst, instead.
• When people make offhand comments to you like “why can’t you just take an Advil,” or ,”well, my mom gets headaches all the time, but she doesn’t let it keep her from working,” try not to get defensive.  If possible, calmly explain that migraine headaches are a symptom of a neurological disorder, and that what works for one person in treating migraine headaches might not work for many others.
• When you must cancel plans like going to a birthday, kindly emphasize that you are truly sorry that you have to miss the occasion, and that you will do all in your power to show up if you are able.
• To your boss, explain that you suffer from chronic migraines, and that you will make up any time missed from work when you are recuperated.  That will help to strengthen your work relationship and keep you employed.

Helping Others Understand Migraines- 8 Communication Tips

Talk about it on a good day

Most of us can’t focus on having a serious conversation about relationships while we’re in the middle of a migraine with aura.  The next time you have a day without pain, or at least a day that registers #3 on the pain charts, try to have an impromptu discussion with certain people about how migraines are affecting you, and ways they can help.

Give them a rain check

Instead of completely cancelling activities with your friends, try to schedule something for a different date- an activity that is relatively migraine-free.  Your friends and family will be less disappointed if they know that you truly want to see them, and that you are trying to work them into your life.

Give yourself a household chore…any chore

Think of inventive ways to contribute to household chores that don’t trigger migraines.  If pushing a vacuum cleaner leaves you with a pounding headache, then either delegate that chore to somebody else, or find a way to keep the carpet clean by brushing with a wet broom, for example.  Try washing the dishes while seated, by pushing a tall stool over to the sink.

Including yourself in household tasks, at any level, is crucial for maintaining a healthy relationship with your family.

Migraine Sufferer to World: It’s not just a Headache, People!

Join a migraine community

Can’t relate to non-migraineurs?  Join the crowd.  Both online and in person, many migraine support groups are available that provide a venue for your venting…without raising your blood pressure.  For starters, join Migravent on Facebook!

Lean on them

Many times, migraine sufferers’ relationships become strained because others want to help, but don’t know how to ask.  Don’t be shy about enlisting your friends and family in your fight against migraine disorder.  Ask for help, if for no other reason than to give people a chance to do something for you.

Remember, caring is not something you feel, but something that requires practice.

Cut them some slack

We are all flawed human beings, and some of us are just not cut out for nursing…or even making sensitive comments when it’s appropriate.  Don’t hold grudges against people who fail you; just accept that many of us are “damaged goods,” and try to empathize.  Let go of the people who really hurt you, and try to live with the rest.

Please tell us…

Have you found that chronic pain has taught you who your friends are?  Please share your experiences and life lessons.

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

Tell your friends!

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

Read more about migraines and relationships:

35 Things you should never tell a Chronic Migraine Sufferer

Managing your Migraines at Work- 4 Healthy Changes in Attitude

Sources:

How to Manage Relationships & M Words

When Migraines Endanger Our Friendships

Integrative medicine is beneficial with migraine headaches.  A new twist on complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), integrative medicine takes traditional medicine and incorporates natural ingredients such as herbs and magnesium for migraines.

What is integrative medicine?

When you combine Western medicine with ancient Chinese therapy, what you end up with is the latest and freshest approach to holistic medicine.  Sort of a fusion between science-based therapies and natural cures, integrative medicine (IM) aids headache sufferers by rejuvenating the body from within while simultaneously utilizing the latest scientific research on neurological health.

“Integrative medicine combines conventional and CAM treatments for which there is evidence of safety and effectiveness.”

– The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine at the National Institutes of Health

Natural Supplements and Herbs for migraines

Integrative and alternative medicine

Alternative medicine recommends herbs, yoga, and meditation for promoting health, but offers no advice regarding prescription drugs for migraines.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) for Chronic Pain

Integrative medicine doesn’t advise using naturopathic medicine instead of mainstream medicine, but rather using both schools of thought to complement each other in managing migraines.

An integrative medical doctor might diagnose migraine disorder and prescribe migraine abortive medication, while at the same time advocating dietary and herbal nutrients and alternative medicine therapies such as acupuncture, biofeedback, and stress management.

Integrative medicine for migraines is for the whole person- mind, body, and soul- instead of simply addressing the symptoms of migraines.

How do I find an integrative doctor for migraines?

Chances are good that any competent migraine specialist already incorporates integrative medicine into his practice.  Ask your doctor if he advises vitamins, minerals, and herbs, diet, and exercise for neurological health.

For advice on becoming your own advocate of integrative medicine, read Dr. Andrew Weil’s book, Eight Weeks to Optimum Health. Dr. Weil is a long-time supporter of the integration of modern medicine with ancient and alternative therapies.

Please tell us…

What are your thoughts on using integrative medicine for headaches?

Have you tried using herbs and vitamins like riboflavin, magnesium, coenzyme Q10, and butterbur with headaches?

Do you currently use natural ingredients for migraines?

Tell your friends!

Please share this article with your friends, family, or anybody you care about!

Read more about natural migraine nutrients:

Rub out Migraine Headaches with 5 Chinese Acupressure Points

Sources:

How Integrative Medicine Can Help You Be Healthier- Real Simple

What Is Integrative Medicine?

National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine

Brain drain– it’s a symptom of migraines that you could do without.  Difficulty concentrating, feeling as if your brain is lost in a fog, (hence the other popular term “brain fog”), always feeling tired, and constantly forgetting where you left your keys…fatigue symptoms like brain drain could be caused by migraine headaches, or they could indicate another comorbid illness.

Why am I always tired?

When chronic pain is so powerful that it overwhelms your senses, as with migraine headaches, concentrating on anything else outside of the throbbing head pain and eye sensitivity can be a challenge.  Chronic headaches make it difficult to sleep, remember appointments, pay attention to somebody who’s speaking to you, or even concentrate on getting your bottle of migraine remedies open.

Brain drain from migraines

The “brain drain” you feel is most likely caused by chronic fatigue resulting from constant migraine headaches, especially migraines with aura.

Symptoms of brain fog include:

• Frequent feelings of confusion
• Extreme fatigue, despite sleeping and avoiding overexertion
• Difficulty remembering PINs, phone numbers, and dates
• Forgetting what you were going to say, or why you entered a room
• Feeling distracted when people are talking to you
• Inability to focus on a conversation, by telephone or in person
• Decreased attention span
• Difficulty reading
• Trouble remembering people’s names

Other causes of brain drain

Even if you believe migraine headaches are the cause of your chronic fatigue, it is crucial to tell your doctor of your migraine symptoms, so that he can rule out other comorbid illnesses or conditions that could be contributing to your attention difficulties.

Here are some other reasons you might be suffering from brain fog:

Menopause

An overwhelming majority of migraine sufferers are women, so it’s worth noting that chronic fatigue that occurs with migraines could also be a symptom of menopause.

According to the latest research published by the journal Menopause, common complaints of women as they enter menopause include hot flashes, night sweats, and memory loss caused by “brain fog.”

Autoimmune disorder

Brain drain is also a common symptom of many autoimmune disorders, including vitamin B12 deficiency (pernicious anemia), fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), thyroiditis, multiple sclerosis (MS), Sjogren’s syndrome, or lupus.

Migraine drug side effects

Improve your Memory while taking Topamax for Migraines

Certain migraine medications cause side effects that include memory loss.  Anti-seizure drugs like Topamax, Depacon, Neurontin, and Lamictal are often helpful in reducing migraine symptoms, but they may also cause disturbing and sometimes debilitating side effects.

Side effects of anticonvulsant medications may include:

• Attention problems (brain fog, brain drain symptoms)
• Muddled thinking
• Memory loss
• Speech difficulties
• Dizziness
• Drowsiness
• Anxiety
• Moodiness
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Dry mouth
• Burning or tingling sensations
• Altered taste perception
• Decreased coordination
• Frequent stumbling or dropping things
• Muscular soreness and weakness
• Lower back pain
• Frequent colds or viral infections

Please tell us…

Are you currently using a migraine treatment that causes side effects like attention problems, memory loss, or fatigue?

If so, have you considered replacing them with natural supplements that don’t cause harmful reactions, like magnesium, riboflavin (vitamin B2), and coenzyme Q10?

We love to hear from you!  Please comment below with your questions or suggestions.

Spread the love…

Please share this article with your friends, family, or anybody you care about!

Read more about migraine symptoms:

Migraine Symptoms throughout the Ages- Not a Whole Lot has changed

Killer Migraines Might be Fatal after All- Mortality Rates among Migraine Sufferers

Migraine Headaches and Dizziness- Stop the Ride, I want to get off!

Sources:

Reconciling subjective memory complaints with objective memory performance in the menopausal transition

Topamax Side Effects

Basilar-Type Migraine (BTM) headaches are not your average migraine headache- while many migraines with aura cause symptoms like dizziness, visual distortions, and nausea that can last for 30 minutes, basilar-type migraine attacks come on stronger and more aggressively.  Typical BTM auras include severe vertigo, speech slurring, and impaired walking, lasting up to two hours before shifting into migraine headache mode.

Basilar-type migraine treatment options

Prescribed migraine prevention

• Triptans and ergotamines are currently not recommended for treating basilar-type migraines, as there is still insufficient evidence proving their safety or efficacy.
• Some reports indicate that beta-blockers are also to be avoided with BTM headaches.
• Some migraine specialists may prescribe topiramate for children with BTM headaches.
• Calcium channel blockers are currently being used to prevent BTM headaches.
• Unless otherwise indicated, most migraine-prophylaxis drugs may be used for BTM headache symptoms.

Alternative medicine

When considering alternative medicine, it’s important to use herbs and vitamins with care. Always consult your doctor before starting any new migraine management regimen.  When choosing herbs such as butterbur, ensure that the supplement you’re using is free of pesticides and other toxic chemicals, such as pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs).

• Butterbur (Petasites hybridus) root has been the focus of many studies on migraines with aura.  In one placebo-controlled random study on butterbur, researchers found more promising results with butterbur than with a placebo.
• Butterbur is as safe for pediatric migraines as other over-the counter products, as evidenced by this study on childhood migraine.
• In another study natural migraine nutrients, researchers found that including butterbur root, riboflavin, coenzyme Q10, magnesium, feverfew, and alpha lipoic acid as part of your migraine management plan produces dramatic results.

Other excellent alternative methods for managing migraines include massage, yoga, acupuncture, biofeedback, and progressive relaxation

Please tell us…

Do you suffer from basilar-type migraines?  What migraine treatments are you currently using, and which ones are the most effective?  Do you have any symptoms that are not covered by this article?  We welcome your comments, suggestions, and questions!

Spread the love…

Please share this article with your friends, family, or anybody you care about!

Read more about migraine treatments:

UNDERSTANDING AND TREATING BASILAR-TYPE MIGRAINE (BTM)- PART I

Migraine Headache Frequently Asked Questions- the Top Ten List

Migraine Pop Quiz: How Well do you Understand your Headaches?

4 Headaches that Require Emergency Intervention

Sources:

The first placebo-controlled trial of a special butterbur root extract for the prevention of migraine: reanalysis of efficacy criteria- PuMed, NCBI

An extract of Petasites hybridus is effective in the prophylaxis of migraine- PubMed, NCBI

Petasites hybridus root (butterbur) is an effective preventive treatment for migraine

Foods and supplements in the management of migraine headaches- PubMed, NCBI

Butterbur root extract and music therapy in the prevention of childhood migraine: an explorative study- PubMed, NCBI

Basilar-Type Migraine (BTM) headaches are not your average migraine headache- while many migraines with aura cause symptoms like dizziness, visual distortions, and nausea that can last for 30 minutes, basilar-type migraine attacks come on stronger and more aggressively.  Typical BTM auras include severe vertigo, speech slurring, and impaired walking, lasting up to two hours before shifting into migraine headache mode.

Basilar-type migraines- what are they?

Basilar-type migraines are migraines with aura that originate in the brainstem or both sides of the brain (cerebral hemispheres).  Previously, they used to be referred to as basilar artery migraines (BAM) because some researchers thought they were caused by the narrowing of the basilar artery at the back of the brain.

Most basilar-type migraines follow the pattern of typical migraines with aura, the only difference being increased severity, duration, and frequency of aura symptoms such as vertigo, disorientation, and speaking difficulties.

Another distinguishing characteristic of basilar-type migraines is the absence of any sign of motor weakness, such as numbness or paralysis that can occur with other types of migraines with aura.

It was previously believed that basilar-type migraines occurred mostly among young teenaged girls, but we know understand that it can affect migraine sufferers of any age group.  And like all migraines, women are three times more likely to suffer from basilar-type migraines as males.

Migraines and other Types of Headaches- How many are there? Part 1

Symptoms of basilar-type migraines

About one or two hours before the migraine headache sets in, most patients with basilar-type migraines experience a typical migraine aura, only much stronger than average migraine with aura symptoms.  At first glance, somebody suffering from a BTM aura may appear to be intoxicated, as slurred speech, dizziness, and walking difficulties are common symptoms.

Basilar-type migraine aura symptoms include:

• Vertigo
• Visual aura (bright spots, flashes, or crescent-shaped images)
• Double vision
• Blurred vision
• Temporary blindness
• Aphasic aura (slurred speech)
• Difficulty controlling your tongue, jaw, or throat muscles
• Ataxia (loss of balance while walking)
• Paresthesias (numbness or “pins and needles” in the face, hands, or feet)
• Confusion
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) or other hearing impairment
• Loss of consciousness

Please tell us…

Do you suffer from basilar-type migraines?  What migraine treatments are you currently using, and which ones are the most effective?  Do you have any symptoms that are not covered by this article?  We welcome your comments, suggestions, and questions!

Spread the love…

Please share this article with your friends, family, or anybody you care about!

Read more about migraine treatments:

Migraine Headache Frequently Asked Questions- the Top Ten List

Migraine Pop Quiz: How Well do you Understand your Headaches?

4 Headaches that Require Emergency Intervention

Sources:

Basilar-Type Migraine- ACHE

Prescription pain pills may do more harm than good- that’s why more people suffering from pain are using complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for optimal health while managing migraines, fibromyalgia, and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).  Alternative medicine nurtures the body as a whole; used properly, many herbs and vitamins , combined with relaxation and gentle yoga, offer many migraine sufferers healthful results.

What is chronic pain?

Chronic pain is any condition that causes long periods of painful suffering, for months or years, in the absence of any kind of visible treatable injury.  Chronic pain conditions such as migraine headaches and back pain interfere with your quality of life, making it difficult to sleep well, perform your job duties, drive a car, or take care of your own basic needs.

Some common chronic pain disorders are:

• Migraines
• Fibromyalgia
• Chronic fatigue
• Arthritis
• Neuropathy (nerve damage)
• Lower back pain
• Endometriosis
• Interstitial cystitis
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction
• Vulvodynia (chronic vulvar pain)

Women get the Lion’s Share of Migraines and Chronic Pain

Natural ingredients

In using herbs and vitamins to improve your health while managing chronic pain, it’s important to remember that even natural ingredients must be used responsibly with the advice of a medical practitioner.  “Natural” doesn’t always equal safe for everybody.  Certain vitamins like vitamin A and vitamin E can become toxic if taken in excess quantities. Using a natural migraine ingredient as a blood thinner may benefit migraine patients, but only under a doctor’s supervision.

Natural ingredients used for chronic pain include:

• Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)
• Coenzyme Q10
• Butterbur root
• Topical capsaicin cream
• Chondroitin
• Fish oil
• Glucosamine

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is an ancient Eastern medical practice that involves inserting thin needles into the body in order to treat chronic pain.  Western medicine is much more open to the notion of using Chinese acupuncture than ever before- what used to be considered an alien, almost exotic branch of medicine is now mainstream.  Acupuncture doesn’t guarantee immediate results, but with continued practice, many people suffering from anxiety, gastrointestinal disorders, chronic pain, and numerous other ailments have found significant relief through acupuncture.

“Acupuncture releases natural pain-relieving opioids, sends signals that calm the sympathetic nervous system, and releases neurochemicals and hormones.”  –About.com

Rub out Migraine Headaches with 5 Chinese Acupressure Points

Chiropractic manipulation

Chiropractic care relieves chronic pain by adjusting your spine or other parts of your body back to its correct alignment.

• Spinal manipulation involves forcefully manipulating a certain joint outside of its usual range of movement as a means of providing chronic pain relief and healing an injury.  Spinal manipulation is used by chiropractors and massage therapists.
• Osteopathic Manipulation, practiced by osteopathic physicians, restores bodily function and relieves chronic pain by combining Osteopathic Manipulative Technique (OMT) healing with proper posture training and osteopathic philosophy.

Exercise

Exercising might be the last thing on your mind if you suffer from chronic pain, but numerous studies prove that incorporating even small amounts of gentle stretching or light walking into your daily life contributes to chronic pain relief, decreased stress, and improved cardiovascular health.

Some recommended exercises for chronic pain include:

• Walking
• Low-impact aerobics
• Yoga
• Tai chi

Relaxation

Learning how to relax in any situation is instrumental in dealing with chronic pain, reducing stress, and maintaining a sense of wellbeing.

Popular relaxation techniques include:

• Hypnotherapy
• Biofeedback
• Guided imagery
• Progressive relaxation
• Music therapy
• Aromatherapy
• Massage
• Cognitive behavioral therapy

Please tell us…

Are you an ex-chronic pain sufferer who has found relieve using CAM?  Please share your experience! We welcome your comments, suggestions, and questions.

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Sources:

Chronic Pain and CAM: At a Glance

Alternative Treatments for Chronic Pain

Dietary Reference Intakes:  Elements