Sunday, February 3rd, 2008
Migraines are the number one side effect reported by women who use oral contraception. This is generally attributed to the fluctuation of estrogen levels in the body and occurs most frequently in women that are using combination estrogen-progestin pills. Although 20% of women who use contraceptives report migraine headaches, it can be difficult to diagnose the exact cause since women are more prone to migraine headaches and tend to fall into multiple risk profiles.
A study by the Harvard Medical School concluded that headaches that occur in the early cycles of contraceptive use tend to improve or disappear with continued use. The study also suggests that manipulating the extent or duration of estrogen withdrawal may provide some benefit as well.
If you believe that your migraine headaches are a side effect of oral contraceptives, then it is important that you consult with your physician to make sure that all of the risk factors are considered. You should also let your doctor know if you have a history of migraines prior to using any type of oral contraceptive. Many women who suffer from severe migraine headaches use not estrogen based forms of contraception.
Tags: migraine headaches, migraines, oral contraception
Posted in Headache Treatment, Headache Triggers | No Comments »
Wednesday, January 16th, 2008
If you suffer from severe migraine headaches and are currently enrolled to receive Medicare benefits, then you may be eligible to receive coverage that will pay for many of the most powerful prescription drugs on the market. The drugs most widely prescribed for the treatment or of chronic headaches are known as Triptans.
Triptans are medications used to reduce the symptoms or abort the onset of a migraine headache. Since their introduction in the 1990’s, triptans have been an effective treatment for millions of migraine sufferers. Unfortunately, many are still only available as name brands and are thus very expensive. Luckily, Medicare does provide limited coverage for those that qualify.
Under the current Medicare drug plan, the following Triptans are covered. Note that you may have to meet certain pre certification criteria and there will most likely be some quantity limits.
- Amerge® (naratriptan)
- Imitrex® (sumatriptan inj, nasal spray and tablets)
- Maxalt®, Maxalt MLT® (rizatriptan)
- Relpax® (eletriptan)
- Axert® (almotriptan)
- Frova® (Frova)
- Zomig®, Zomig ZMT® (zolmitriptan)
All of these drugs are available only with a prescription and require close medical supervision.
Tags: almotriptan, Amerge, Axert, eletriptan, Frova, frovatriptan, headache treatments, Imitrex, Maxalt, medicare drug plan, medicare headache treatments, migraine, migraine headaches, naratriptan, relpax, rizatriptan, sumatriptan, triptans, zolmitriptan
Posted in General Health, Headache Diagnosis | 1 Comment »
Saturday, November 10th, 2007
Melatonin is a naturally occurring hormone that is produced by the pineal gland inside of the brain. There is increasing evidence that melatonin levels are related to migraine and cluster headaches. Synthetic melatonin is commonly used by people with sleeping disorders, such as insomnia, to help regulate their sleep cycles. Studies are currently under way to evaluate the efficacy of melatonin in the prevention and treatment of migraine headaches.
Although more research is required, early results are promising. In a study published in the August 2004 issue of Neurology, participants took just 3 mg of melatonin 30 minutes before bedtime for a period of 3 months. At the end of the study, 78% of participants reported a 50% decrease in headache frequency and 25% of participants reported no headaches at all during the study period.
If you are a migraine sufferer, then this may be an alternative therapy that is worth considering. Even though melatonin is available over the counter, you should always consult your doctor before beginning any new treatment.
Tags: cluster headaches, melatonin, migraine, migraine headaches, migraine treatment, migraines
Posted in Headache Treatment | 2 Comments »
Friday, October 26th, 2007
Migraine headaches can be very disruptive for those who suffer from them.
These headaches can occur at anytime and can be triggered by various causes.
Migraine headaches are so bad that many times it takes days for the side
effects to go away completely. It’s no wonder that migraine headache sufferers
face both negative physical symptoms as well as emotional symptoms.
Migraine headaches must be treated with a variety of integrated approaches.
There is no one solution that cures everyone. Treatments include medication,
techniques to promote relaxation, and physical therapy.
Tags: migraine headaches, migraines
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