give me a list of different meds that work good for treating migraines?

Question: give me a list of different meds that work good for treating migraines?

Answer:

Full Question:

I am a 22-year-old female. I have had migraines for about 10 years but I can no longer take the meds that I was previously on do to different medical problems. I was wondering if you could give me a list of different meds that work good for treating migraines. Thanx Katherine.

Answer:

Dear Katherine:

This is a question about which entire books have been written. To answer it here is virtually impossible. Therefore, I'm going to give you some links where you can find lists of medications as well as books that talk about Migraine disease, including medications:

• Encouraging Migraine News Part II: Important Guidelines for Treatment
  The U.S. Headache Consortium has been formulated guidelines for both patients and the physicians who treat them for Migraines. According to Dr. Silberstein, the guidelines are, "designed to help patients be their own advocates in seeking care." The guidelines for physicians, "include assigning a grade to tell all of the medications available and are designed to help physicians best treat their patients with Migraine. (This article includes links to the guidelines, including lists of medications. They are about three years old, so not all medications will be listed, however.)
• Preventive Medications List
• Review: Migraines and Other Headaches, Young and Silberstein
  Five stars to "Migraine and Other Headaches" by William B. Young and Stephen D. Silberstein. The first of a quality-of-life series from the American Academy of Neurology, this book is a great educational resource for anyone who suffers headaches and Migraines of anyone who doesn't, but cares about someone who does. (Published in 2004)
• Review: Understanding Migraine and Other Headaches, Stewart J. Tepper
  We all need some good books about headaches and Migraine in our libraries. The newly released "Understanding Migraine and Other Headaches" is a quite worthy addition to anyone's library. Written "for general readers," the book is, "a comprehensive overview of causes, diagnoses, and treatments" written in a logical, easy flowing style. You'll find it complete, up-to-date, and easy to understand. (Published in 2004)

The second link above is a list of preventive medications that I've been adding to based on my reading. As for abortives, the most commonly used are the triptans:

Triptans: Overview and Profiles
In 1992, the FDA approved the first of a class of medications that many Migraineurs call "miracle drugs." That drug was sumatriptan (Imitrex®, Imigran®), the first triptan. Here are both general information on triptans and detailed profiles of each.

Other abortives include DHE-45 injections and Migranal Nasal Spray, both of which contain dihydroergotamine. Many doctors prescribe medications frequently used for nausea -- such as Reglan, Phenergan, and Compazine -- to help with aborting Migraines, too.

I hope this is helpful,
Teri Robert

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