Many chronic migraine sufferers resort to taking prescription medicines named triptans when a migraine gets out of control.
These medicines are used "acutely".
This means you take them when you already have a migraine you want to stop.
These drugs do not prevent migraines from occurring.
In fact, not only do they not prevent migraines, the general consensus amongst researchers and clinicians is that on-going regular use of triptan drugs like Imitrex or Zomig actually increase the total number of migraines that many users of the drugs have.
This phenomenon is known as "Rebound Headache.
" Some readers of this article may recognize this pattern in their own lives.
A migraine develops that won't go away and one of these drugs is administered.
The current migraine either goes away or decreases in intensity to the point where it is manageable but a day or two later, another migraine occurs.
"The Rebound Headache".
If users are not careful this can lead to increasing drug use and a cycle of reoccurring migraines.
This rebound cycle occurs not only with triptan drugs but with caffeine containing over the counter medicines like Excedrin.
Caffeine can help reduce the pain of headaches and migraines in some sufferers.
But unfortunately it is caffeine that causes many headaches and contributes to the development of migraines in many, if not most sufferers.
In fact, several well known neurologists who specialize in treating migraine sufferers have stated that one of the most powerful ways to reduce the number of migraines that sufferers experience is to remove caffeine from their diets.
Unfortunately, this is easier said than done, because caffeine is addictive and many sufferers when attempting to ween off of it actually go through withdrawal like symptoms and experience a temporary, short increase in their headaches or migraines.
Fortunately, this will last only a short time, perhaps several days and then a significant decrease in the frequency and intensity of migraines should occur.
It is very interesting just how "convoluted" the use of some prescription medicines to treat the pain of migraines really is.
One of the many theories as to why migraines happen is that blood platelets tend to aggregate (clump) more in chronic migraineurs.
These platelets also happen to release serotonin when they aggregate and serotonin is vasocontrictive (is causes arteries to constrict).
Well it seems in migraineurs, when the brain senses this "vasonconstriction", it over reacts and the arteries expand open too much and too quickly, releasing pain causing chemicals, that negatively affect certain nerves and the sufferer is on her or his way to yet another migraine.
So what do the prescription drugs called triptans do: They essentially cause serotonin to constrict the arteries again so that they are not over-expanded.
(Isn't this where the problem started?).
Sometimes these drugs work very well for certain sufferers and sometimes users find that after immediate relief, they often develop a rebound headache.
So it would seem that anything that tends to keep the arteries stable, not overly constricted or expanded would be of help.
This is one of the reasons that certain (not all) forms of feverfew and magnesium work well for migraine prevention.
One of feverfew's actions is to prevent platelet aggregation and reduce the risk of excessive serotonin release leading to excessive vasocontriction.
The magnesium helps to prevent spasms of the arteries and keeps them relaxed.
Another spice, ginger also has an anti-platelet and possible anti-inflammatory mechanism and may be beneficial if consumed in about a gram a day.
The above information highlights why preventing migraines as opposed to treating the symptoms is a much safer and desirable short and long term choice in dealing with the effect of migraines on your life.
For more information visit http://www.
MigreLief.
com Curt Hendrix - M.
S, C.
C.
N, C.
N.
S.