Archive for the ‘Migraine Medication’ Category
Wednesday, April 17th, 2013
Walk-in clinics are starting to replace urgent care and ER, and for good reason. Many now treat chronic illnesses like migraines, fibromyalgia, diabetes, and asthma, only without charging exorbitant prices or making you wait for hours. Here are some pros and cons to visiting a walk-in clinic for chronic migraine.
Reasons to go to a walk-in for migraines
- Guaranteed admission in case of emergency migraine attack
- Many locations in most cities
- Twenty-four hour service, seven days per week
- Option to walk in or schedule appointment
- Most walk-in clinics provide quick service
- Clear, menu-style pricing
- Option to pay with cash or insurance benefits
- Walk-in clinics accept most insurance plans
- Cheaper than ER or urgent care clinics
- Migraine medication history and other health records are accessible from all retail clinic locations
- Practical for people without health insurance or Medicare
- Retail clinics usually practice evidence-based medicine, including for migraine therapies
- Many convenient care clinics diagnose and treat chronic illnesses
- Registered nurse or medical assistant is always on hand
- Migraine medicine prescriptions can be ordered on line and picked up at the store’s pharmacy
- Website features full disclosed information on what types of services they provide for migraine patients
Reasons not to go to a walk-in for migraines
- Hasty consultations may not allow time for much discussion about migraine history or symptoms
- Walk-in clinics don’t have a doctor on the premises
- In exchange for convenience, you lose out on the opportunity to build a rapport with a primary care doctor
- Not all retail clinics treat chronic illness or pain, and treatments offered may be limited
- Walk-in clinics don’t follow up with patients on migraine medications
- Quality of care may vary according to the state regulations
Your turn!
What has been your experience with retail clinics like Walgreens for migraine attacks?
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, twitter, or Facebook.
Like this? Read more:
OTC Painkillers- How do they Work, What are the Risks?
Top 25 Natural Migraine Treatments: Vitamins, Minerals, and Herbs
Social Security Disability for Migraine- 5 Tips for Filing
Sources:
10 things walk-in clinics won’t tell you
Retail Clinics: What’s in Store for Health Care
Image courtesy of Steve Snodgrass/Flickr
Tags: Migraine, Migraine care, Migraine clinic, migraine medications, Walk-in clinics
Posted in Migraine Medication | No Comments »
Monday, March 4th, 2013
Is it still a migraine if OTC painkillers help? Some, not all, migraine headaches can be relieved with over-the-counter (OTC) pain medications such as Advil and Tylenol. Still, despite assurances of safety by the FDA, even the most trusted of all mass-manufactured migraine relievers- pills like Excedrin Migraine and aspirin- can come with a heavy price tag.
Types of painkillers
First, an introduction to the many different types of OTC painkillers, what they have to offer for migraine sufferers, and what risk factors are involved with long-term usage.
Note: Never begin any new migraine treatment, including OTC painkillers, without talking with your health care provider first.
Ibuprofen
(Advil, Motrin IB, Nuprin)
Benefits include:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), blocks chemicals that trigger pain
- Effective for migraine headache pain relief
- Reduces fevers, inflammation, and relieves general body pain
Health risks include:
- Long-term usage of ibuprofen as an OTC painkiller for migraines can exacerbate gastrointestinal ailments, such as stomach ulcers, painful heartburn, and stomachaches
- Risk of damage to the stomach increases with alcohol use in conjunction with OTC painkillers such as ibuprofen
- Increases your risk for heart attack and stroke
- Unsafe during the last trimester of pregnancy
- Long-term usage may cause tinnitus
- May cause hives in people who are allergic
- Possibly unsafe for people with asthma
- Possibly impairs your ability to heal from injuries naturally
You’ll also like: Best for Migraines: Advil or Tylenol?
Ketoprofen
(Actron, Orudis KT)
Benefits include:
- NSAID
- Reduces fever, pain, and inflammation
Health risks include:
- May cause or aggravate stomach ulcers
- As with ibuprofen and other OTC painkillers, may exacerbate stomach problems, and may raise your risk for heart attack and stroke
- Possibly impairs your ability to heal from injuries naturally
Aspirin
(Bayer, Bufferin, Ecotrin, Excedrin Migraine)
Benefits include:
- NSAID, blocks pain-inducing chemicals
- Relieves pain, lowers fever, reduces inflammation and swelling
- Thins the blood
- Small doses help to prevent strokes and heart disease
Health risks include:
- Long-term use of aspirin as an OTC painkiller in treating migraines can cause stomach ulcers
- May aggravate underlying gastrointestinal disorders
- May cause stomach cramps, heartburn or nausea
- May lead to build-up of scar tissue in the stomach
- Not safe for people suffering from liver disease, gout, juvenile arthritis, or asthma
- May cause tinnitus
Read this! Top 25 Natural Migraine Treatments: Vitamins, Minerals, and Herbs
Acetaminophen
(Paracetamol, Tylenol, Panadol, Tempra, Excedrin Migraine)
Benefits include:
- Acetaminophen is not a “NSAID” OTC painkiller
- Relieves some migraine headaches, lowers fever
- Not likely to cause ulcers
- Safe for pregnant and nursing women
- Doesn’t act as a blood thinner
Health risks include:
- Too-high doses can result in severe damage to the liver
- Continuous usage as an OTC painkiller, particularly when combined with caffeine (as in Excedrin Migraine) or codeine can cause damage to the kidneys.
- Because acetaminophen doesn’t reduce swelling, it’s not helpful for treating pain caused by inflammation
Naproxen sodium
(Aleve)
Benefits include:
- Same as other OTC painkillers, reduces pain, lowers fevers, treats painful inflammation
- May relieve migraine headaches
Health risks include:
- Unsafe for people with ulcers
- Aggravates GI disorders
- Combination with alcohol increases risk for stomach ailments, ulcers
- Increases risk for heart attack and stroke
- Possibly impairs your ability to heal from injuries naturally
Your turn!
What OTC painkillers have you always used for migraines?
Are you still satisfied with the efficiency of OTC painkillers to relieve migraine headaches?
Have you considered switching to natural supplements that benefit migraine, from the inside out?
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+.
Like this? Read more:
Natural Migraine Remedies Surge with Prescription Drug Deaths
Migraine Medication Pros and Cons: the Basics
Image(s) courtesy of Stuart Miles/FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Tags: migraine headaches, migraine relief, NSAIDs, OTC painkillers, over-the-counter painkillers, pain relievers headaches
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Thursday, February 21st, 2013
Brain zaps feel like an electrical buzzing sensation in your head. If you often feel a jolt of electricity in your brain, then it could be a symptom of migraine medication withdrawal.
You’re not going crazy!
Patients describe them as weird buzzing sounds that come when they’re trying to sleep, or sudden jolts of electrical shocks in the head. Brain zaps are a common side effect of SSRI antidepressants used to treat migraines, depression, and anxiety.
SSRI discontinuation syndrome, or withdrawal from antidepressants, happens when your neurological system is adjusting to a sudden decrease or cessation of selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors.
If you accidentally skipped a pill, or decided to go cold turkey on your migraine medications (not a good idea), then a neurochemical change occurs in your brain, withdrawal symptoms known as brain zaps, brain shivers, brain shocks, brain pulse-waves, flickers, or cranial zings.
Examples of SSRIs
Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) sometimes used for depression and migraine include:
- Fluoxetine (Prozac, Prozac Weekly, Sarafem)
- Paroxetine (Paxil, Paxil CR, Pexeva)
- Sertraline (Zoloft)
- Citalopram (Celexa)
- Escitalopram (Lexapro)
In addition to antidepressants, other medications that may cause brain zaps with migraine include benzodiazepines for anxiety and sleeping pills.
Migraines, Women, and Depression: 9 Myths and Truths
SSRI withdrawal symptoms
Brains zaps are just one side effect of antidepressant discontinuation.
Other SSRI migraine medication withdrawal symptoms that may occur, in addition to brain zaps, include:
- Headache
- Vertigo
- Dizziness
- Sweating
- Disorientation
- Nightmares
- Insomnia
- Nausea
Natural Migraine Remedies Surge with Prescription Drug Deaths
Prevent brain zaps
Psychologists believe that depression may occur because of limited cell growth in the nervous system. To prevent depression and symptoms of withdrawal naturally, many doctors emphasize taking natural supplements that support brain cell growth and healthy neurological functioning.
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that promotes brain cell production, and is available as a supplement. Serotonin is also helpful for treating SSRI withdrawal side effects of insomnia by helping you sleep more restfully.
Other helpful natural ingredients include coenzyme Q10, which increases cellular metabolism, and vitamin B2 (riboflavin) for neurological integrity.
Your turn!
Have you ever experienced brain zap, and wondered what was causing it?
Have you tried weaning off antidepressants, but had problems with severe symptoms of withdrawal?
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+.
Like this? Read more:
Can you read your Migraine Prescriptions? 30 Medical Abbreviations
Migraine Medication Pros and Cons: the Basics
Top 25 Natural Migraine Treatments: Vitamins, Minerals, and Herbs
Can Anxiety Attacks cause Migraines?
Sources:
Bottled lightning- BMJ
‘Brain shivers’: from chat room to clinic
Fireworks or Brain Zaps? Psychology Today
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
Image(s) courtesy of Salvatore Vuono/FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Tags: antidepressant medication, brain shivers, brain zaps, electric buzz, electric shock, electrical shocks, migraine medication, migraine symptoms, migraines depression, serotonin, vertigo, withdrawal symptom
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Tuesday, January 22nd, 2013
If you take prescription medication for migraines, then it’s important to understand your doctor’s instructions clearly, without any doubt. Knowing how to read “doctor-ese” can sometimes help! Listed are some common abbreviations that physicians use when writing out prescriptions.
What did he say?
If it seems like your doctor’s orders are in a foreign language, then you’re right. All physicians use Latin and English abbreviations when writing out your prescription meds in shorthand. And they don’t get an A+ for neatness, either.
So if you didn’t take notes during your appointment, then you might find yourself staring at your brand-new prescription pain relievers, thinking, “Now, how often am I supposed to take these?” or, “What am I NOT supposed to take these with?”
Decoding the lingo
If you get chronic migraine headaches often…and I mean a lot…it’s very likely that you’re going to attend a lot of doctor visits feeling under-the-weather, fatigued, slow, and headache-y. So most likely, you didn’t take notes, and you don’t have a translator handy to help you read the Latin instructions on the medicine bottle.
For situations like these, it may help to have a doctor-patient dictionary on hand, for quick reference. Even if you’re only able to decipher a few words regarding your migraine prescription, those few abbreviations may be the ones to jolt your memory.
Please note, if you have any questions about prescription drugs, it is always best to call your pharmacist, nurse, or doctor.
Natural Migraine Remedies Surge with Prescription Drug Deaths
The following list of common medical abbreviations does not constitute medical advice, nor is it meant to serve as an alternative to your physician’s advice. Rather, it may serve as a bridge between you, the patient, and your healthcare providers.
- a.c. (ante cibum) – before meals
- ad lib. (ad libitum) – use as much as one desires; freely
- bis (bis) – twice
- b.i.d. (bis in die) – twice daily
- cf - with food
- gtt(s) (gutta[e]) -drop(s)
- h.s. (hora somni) – at bedtime
- IM – intramuscularly (by needle, injected into a muscle)
- IV – intravenously (by a needle in a vein)
- m, min (minimum) – a minimum
- mcg – microgram
- mg – milligram
- noct. (nocte) – at night
- non rep. (non repetatur) – no repeats
- N.T.E. – not to exceed
- p.c. (post cibum) – after meals
- prn (pro re nata) – as needed
- po (per os) – orally
- q.a.d. (quoque alternis die) – every other day
- q.a.m. (quaque die ante meridiem) – every day before noon
- qd (quaque die) – every day
- q.h. (quaque hora) – every hour
- q.h.s. (quaque hora somni) – every night at bedtime
- s.a. (secundum artum) – use your judgment
- sl – sublingually (under the tongue)
- s.o.s., si op. sit (si opus sit) – if there is a need
- SQ – subcutaneously (by needle, under the skin)
- stat (statim) – immediately
- tid (ter in die) – three times a day
- u.d., ut. dict. (ut dictum) – as directed
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Your turn!
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+.
Like this? Read more:
Best for Migraines: Advil or Tylenol?
Migraine Medication Pros and Cons: the Basics
Top 25 Natural Migraine Treatments: Vitamins, Minerals, and Herbs
Source:
Every Patient’s Advocate, PDF
Image(s) courtesy of stockimages/FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Tags: advice, doctor, help, medication, migraine medications, Migraine prescriptions, Patient, prescription drugs
Posted in Migraine Medication | No Comments »
Wednesday, January 9th, 2013
Which headache medicine works best for relieving migraines- Advil (ibuprofen) or Tylenol (acetaminophen)? Here are some pros and cons to taking OTC pain relievers for migraines, such as Advil, Tylenol, and Excedrin.
Deciding which kind of medicine to take for chronic pain depends on many different factors, such as where the pain is located and what’s causing it. Also, possible drug interactions and underlying health conditions need to be considered.
In the case of migraines, there are advantages to using ibuprofen-based headache relievers such as Advil or Motrin IB, where for other migraine patients; acetaminophen brands such as Tylenol or Paracetamol provide superior pain relief results.
Advil for migraines
Ibuprofen falls under the category of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and Advil is one of the most popular choices for relieving headaches, including migraines.
In one of many scientific trials, Advil scored far better for treating migraine headaches than a placebo, either eliminating or substantially decreasing pain within two hours, in addition to alleviating symptoms of nausea, vomiting and extreme sensitivity to light and sound.
Side effects and risks for long-term Advil usage may include:
- Stomach pain (negligible, when compared to stomach cramps caused by migraines)
- Stomach ulcers
- Rebound headache
- Tinnitus (ear ringing)
- Increased risk for heart attack or stroke
- Blood clotting- don’t take with blood thinners
Natural Migraine Remedies Surge with Prescription Drug Deaths
Tylenol for migraines
Tylenol contains acetaminophen, an analgesic pain reliever that can be effective for treating migraine headaches and muscle soreness, but without causing stomach problems or heart disease complications. Tylenol reduces pain symptoms and fever, but has no effect on inflammation.
Acetaminophen is also available in Excedrin for migraines, which also has caffeine and aspirin. For some, the addition of caffeine and aspirin may pose serious health risks, especially if you suffer take medications for heart disease, so confide in your doctor before undertaking a new migraine regimen that involves these ingredients.
Side effects and health risks associated with Tylenol may include:
- Harmful interaction with alcohol
- Liver damage with overdose
- Overdose through common drug interactions
- Allergic reactions
- Interference with warfarin (Coumadin) blood thinners
What’s best for migraines?
For prevention of side effects and drug interactions, Tylenol seems to be the safest bet for migraine patients. Tylenol with added caffeine and aspirin is more effective, but should only be used under your doctor’s recommendation, as they may cause side effects affecting your liver and heart. For maximum migraine headache relief, Advil is top-notch, but increases your risk for rebound headache, stomach ulcers, and heart disease.
Prevention tips
To get the most out of your migraine medications, whether you take over-the-counter (OTC) NSAIDs or prescribed migraine treatments, it’s important to avoid migraine triggers where they exist, in order to reduce your dependence on migraine meds while at the same time increasing their potency.
- Find out which foods are most likely to cause migraine headaches, and avoid them
- Drink water to avoid dehydration headaches
- Don’t skip meals
- Avoid napping during the day
- Experiment with healthy alternative treatments that benefit migraine patients, such as butterbur, magnesium, and coenzyme Q10. Riboflavin (vitamin B2) and magnesium deficiencies are sometimes at the heart of migraine attack frequency.
Top 25 Natural Migraine Treatments: Vitamins, Minerals, and Herbs
Vote!
Which migraine pain reliever do you use? Have OTC medications like Advil, Tylenol, or Excedrin been effective at treating migraine headaches?
Have you tried supplementing with natural ingredients that reduce your need for pain relievers?
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+.
Like this? Read more:
Introducing Natural Ingredients for Migraines: What are the Benefits?
Natural Migraine Remedies: 9 Must-Take Vitamins, Minerals, and Herbs
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Sources:
Migraine: What can I expect from taking ibuprofen?
NSAIDs for Pain Relief: Ibuprofen, Aspirin, Naproxen
Image(s) courtesy of vichie81/FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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Tags: Advil or Tylenol for Migraines, Best for Migraine, migraine headaches, migraine pain relief, OTC migraine
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Monday, December 17th, 2012
Certain migraine medications can help to relieve migraine headaches, prevent migraine attacks, or nip them in the bud. Before starting a new migraine medication plan, it’s important to weigh the pros and cons.
While there are no medications formulated exclusively for migraine headaches, many patients have successfully decreased migraine attack incidents through the use of various drugs intended for the treatment of other illnesses, such as heart disease, epilepsy, and depression.
However, there are no guarantees when it comes to preventing migraines, save for the fact that some migraine medications may cause harmful side effects which exacerbate symptoms such as painful headache, nausea, and constant fatigue, in addition to posing severe health risks.
Related: Over-the-Counter Migraine Drugs- What are the Risks?
Listed are some of the most popular migraine prophylaxis and pain relief treatments, including their risks and benefits.
OTC migraine pain medications
Example: Tylenol, Advil, Excedrin, aspirin, and naproxen.
Pros: Inexpensive, readily available without prescription, widely accepted.
Cons: Overuse may cause rebound migraine headaches, in addition to damaging the stomach, esophagus, and liver.
Tips: Take with food, use as instructed, and track dosage in migraine diary.
Narcotic pain drugs for migraine
Example: NSAIDs combined with codeine, opioids.
Pros: May provide strong migraine relief where other attempts to treat migraine headaches have failed.
Cons: High risk for overdose, drug dependency, rebound headache, dizziness, and intense drowsiness.
Tips: Use as instructed by physician, resist taking extra doses.
Ergotamine
Example: Cafergot, DHE.
Pros: For migraine patients suffering from nausea, ergots may be taken as a nasal spray.
Cons: Side effects such as nausea and dizziness, and may not be taken if you suffer from heart disease or high blood pressure; also, not the most effective medication for migraines.
Tips: Do not take if you experience hypertension or have a history of heart disease.
Triptans
Example: Sumatriptan, rizatriptan, zolmitriptan.
Pros: High success rate, and may be taken as pill, injection, or nasal spray.
Cons: Potentially hazardous when combined with medications for depression, heart disease, or hypertension.
Tips: Consult your migraine doctor if you currently take medicine for cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, or depression.
Calcium channel blockers
Example: Verapamil, amlodipine, diltiazem.
Pros: Safe for migraine sufferers with high blood pressure.
Cons: Constipation and decreased heart rate.
Tips: Migraine sufferers who have a history for cardiovascular health problems should consult their doctor before beginning calcium channel blockers as medication for migraines. Also, natural digestive aids should be taken to treat stomach pains and bloating from constipation.
Beta blockers
Example: Acebutolol, bisoprolol, atenolol.
Pros: Safe for migraine sufferers with high blood pressure.
Cons: May not be combined with medications for depression or asthma.
Tips: Migraine patients suffering from severe depression or asthma should seek alternative migraine medications.
Antidepressants
Example: Sertraline, amitryptiline, Buspirone.
Pros: Effective for patients suffering from depression as comorbidity to migraine headaches.
Cons: Effectiveness decreases in time, and may cause fatigue, weight gain, and decreased sex drive.
Tips: Seek professional counseling and experiment with stress reduction techniques, in addition to tracking antidepressant usage with your doctor.
Anti-epileptic medications for migraine
Example: Topamax, Valproate.
Pros: Effective for treating migraine patients with epilepsy or bipolar disorder, and generally high success rate, when compared with other prescription migraine medications.
Cons: Risk for birth defects if taken during pregnancy, plus long-term side effects such as memory loss, fatigue, “brain fog,” and dizziness.
Tips: If taking Topamax for migraines, tell your doctor if you experience side effects such as vertigo, forgetfulness, or constant tiredness that don’t occur with migraine attacks.
Related: Migraines and Epilepsy: 10 Quick Migralepsy Facts
Natural migraine medications
Example: butterbur, magnesium, coenzyme Q10, riboflavin.
Pros: Effectively target migraine triggers and underlying health issues that cause headaches, as opposed to merely treating the symptoms; may be taken safely by most individuals of any age, without the risk for harmful side effects.
Cons: Magnesium sometimes causes constipation. Health benefits from natural supplements for migraines are rarely instant, and may require some time before any change in migraine severity or frequency is noticed.
Tips: Consult your doctor before starting any new migraine treatment, including natural supplements for migraines. Track improvements by using a migraine diary.
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+.
Like this? Read more:
10 Deadly Migraine Drug-Grapefruit Interactions: Expanded List
Top 25 Natural Migraine Treatments: Vitamins, Minerals, and Herbs
Image(s) courtesy of akeeris/FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Tags: Migraine drugs risks, migraine medications, Migraine medications pros and cons, natural migraine treatments, Topamax for migraines
Posted in Migraine Medication | No Comments »
Wednesday, November 28th, 2012
If you take the following migraine drugs, avoid all grapefruit products. Recently, the Canadian Medical Association Journal published an updated list including dozens of medications that can have deadly drug interactions when consumed with grapefruit juice or pulp, including many migraine prophylaxis drugs that are often prescribed for patients of chronic headaches.
For 20 years, physicians have known about the potential risk for toxic poisoning when certain medications come into contact with the otherwise healthy citrus fruit. Currently, there are more than 80 pharmaceuticals that carry drug interaction warnings regarding consumption with grapefruit juice products.
Out of 85 grapefruit-drug interactions that produce harmful side effects, 43 are potentially fatal.
And the list is growing. In just four years, the number of medications, including migraine drugs, which can result in death when taken with grapefruit, has more than doubled.
The list includes many medications that are often prescribed for migraine prevention, including antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, heart disease medications, antihistamines, and anticonvulsants.
Top 25 Natural Migraine Treatments: Vitamins, Minerals, and Herbs
If you take the following migraine drugs, then please check ingredient labels for grapefruit, and ask your doctor about the potential for drug overdose.
- Nimodipine (Nimotop), a calcium channel blocker/migraine drug
- Nifedipine (Procardia), calcium channel blocker/migraine drug
- Nisoldipine (Sular), calcium channel blocker/migraine drug
- Ergotamine (Cafergot, Ergomar), vasoconstrictor/migraine drug
- Amitryptiline (Elavil, Endep, Vanatrip), a tricyclic antidepressant/migraine drug
- Sertraline (Zoloft), antidepressant/migraine drug
- Buspirone (Buspar), anti-anxiety/migraine drug
- Simvastatin (Zocor), statin used to prevent stroke, possible migraine drug
- Lovastatin (Mevacor), statin used to prevent stroke, possible migraine drug
- Atorvastatin (Lipitor), statin used to prevent stroke, possible migraine drug
Natural migraine treatment
To prevent dangerous side effects from prescription migraine drugs, health experts recommend incorporating natural alternative medical practices into your daily migraine management routine, as a means of lowering your dependence on migraine drugs, avoiding migraine triggers, or detoxification.
Natural supplements that benefit migraine patients include butterbur root extract, magnesium, riboflavin, and coenzyme Q10.
Also read: Why use Natural Migraine Treatments?
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+.
Like this? Read more:
Migraine Pain Relievers- Tips for Safe Headache Relief
Over-the-Counter Migraine Drugs- What are the Risks?
Sources:
Grapefruit Drug Interactions: Fruit Reacts Dangerously With Expanding List Of Medications, Study Says
Grapefruit, Medicine Interaction Warning Expanded
Image(s) courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Tags: grapefruit drug interaction, Migraine drug interactions, migraine drugs, Migraine headache medications, migraine prophylaxis, Prescription migraine drugs
Posted in Migraine Medication | No Comments »
Tuesday, October 16th, 2012
Migraine pain relievers can be helpful for treating excruciating migraine headaches and neck pain, but they carry a heavy price tag- your safety. Whether you take over-the-counter (OTC) analgesics or prescription migraine drugs, it’s important to constantly monitor your medication usage in order to avoid side effects or accidental overdose. Here is a quick refresher course in migraine pain relievers.
Read, read, read
If you suffer from chronic migraine headaches, then get into the habit of reading. You are your own best migraine advocate, so learn everything you can about various migraine drugs, including the latest in pain relief and migraine prophylaxis.
Don’t ignore natural alternative medicine, either. Much of the latest research regarding migraine pain relievers has focused on the beneficial properties of certain vitamins, herbs, and minerals in reducing migraine attack severity and headache frequency.
Don’t underestimate your meds
Just because a pain reliever is available without a prescription, that doesn’t mean it’s not powerful- or potentially life-threatening. Many over-the-counter (OTC) migraine pain relievers vary in strength and instructed usage.
Always read the outside label of any medication before using it, even if you think you already know what’s printed. Safety regulations and precautions change from time to time, so it’s crucial to stay updated.
Don’t get mixed up
Even the safest migraine pain meds can be potentially hazardous or ineffective when combined with other ingredients. Find out if drinking alcohol is acceptable with your current migraine treatment. Often, alcohol usage can be life-threatening when combined with certain OTC analgesics or narcotic pain relievers. Drinking milk can also reduce the potency of headache pain relievers.
Less is more
If two pain pills can relieve a really bad migraine, then three should completely obliterate even the strongest, most crushing migraine attack, right? Wrong.
More likely than not, taking more migraine pain relievers than you absolutely need won’t help you migraine go away quicker. Instead, it increases your chance of causing esophageal ulcers or damage to your stomach linings, or worse, accidental overdose.
For safety and effective migraine pain relief, always take the smallest dose recommended by the manufacturer. If your migraine still persists, then speak with a doctor or headache specialist before going above the recommended dosage.
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+.
Like this? Read more:
Over-the-Counter Migraine Drugs- What are the Risks?
Images courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Tags: Analgesics, migraine headaches, Migraine pain relievers, OTC pain reliever, over-the-counter medication
Posted in Migraine Medication | No Comments »
Thursday, March 29th, 2012
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…
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Wednesday, March 28th, 2012
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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Sources:
FDA Considers Expanding Definition of Nonprescription Drugs
Images: Ephemeral Scraps
Tags: chronic pain, migraine attacks, migraine headache and chronic headache, migraine medications, migraine treatments, Over-the-Counter Migraine Drugs
Posted in Migraine Medication | 2 Comments »
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