Treatments For Headaches
Rose Williams | December 20, 2009When we are suffering from a headache it is normal to try to think of ways to stop the pain. However, as there are different types of headaches, the treatments may work for only a some of the headache types. There are two different ways of curing the pain caused by headaches. These types of headache treatment are named prophylactical and abortive headache treatments.
The prophylactic type of headache treatment has to be ingested continuously in order to reduce the frequency of and to control the severity of the headache. The abortive type of headache treatment is started only when the headache starts.
You must realize that your doctor will not prescribe any prophylactic headache treatment unless you are suffering from several, frequent headache attacks per month. Furthermore, when you take the prophylactic medication you will be checked for side effects like weight gain, water retention, lethargy, memory impairment and hallucinations.
The treatment of headaches with prophylactic medication begins with a low dose. The dose amount is then increased as time passes. You will be tested every month or so to see if the treatment is taking effect. Your doctor will also check that, during this phase of your headache treatment, you are not taking any other types of medication or vitamins.
It is very important to know whether the patient is or becomes pregnant. If you do become pregnant, then your doctor should be informed so that tests can be carried out to discover any possible effects to the foetus.
The main prescription drugs given for stopping headache are beta blockers like Tenormin and Lopressor. Calcium channel blockers such as Cardizem, Dilacor, and Procardia are also used. Doctors can also prescribe anti-depressants such as Elavil and Zoloft. You may also be prescribed serotonin antagonists like Sansert.
Furthermore, anti-convulsants such as Tegretol, Depakote, and Dilantin are also given for headache treatment. Cafergot and Sansert, which are ergot derivatives, could also be given by your doctor. The abortive headache treatment available for your headache pain is generally the ‘over the counter’ (OTC) type. These include Paracetamol, Aspirin, Tylenol, Panadol, Motrin, and Advil to name but a few. Tylenol and Panadol are known as Acetaminophen drugs. Motrin and Advil are in the group of drugs that are known as Ibuprofen.
Besides these headache medications there are non-steroidal anti inflammatory drugs or NSAID’s. The side effects of NSAIDs like Naprosyn and Meclomen include nausea, gastrointestinal pain, dizziness, diarrhea, light-headedness and constipation. These headache medications can also cause the side-effect of a different form of headache in some people.
Since these drugs can cause other problems, you should consult your doctor and find out if they are suitable for you or not. People who prefer an ‘alternative’ headache treatment should ask their doctor whether he thinks the alternative medicine, such as aromatherapy, will be efficacious.
If you suffer from migraine or headaches, you ought to definitely go to our website on Stopping Headaches. This article, Treatments For Headaches is released under a creative commons attribution licence.
categories: headaches,migraines,men,women,frustration,moods,emotions,medicine,treatment,anxiety,self help,advice,tension,other