- 1). Decide on preventative or symptomatic treatments. You and your physician should decide if a preventative plan of action would work for you, or if you should combat pain as it strikes. A combination of both types of medications can also be used to manage migraines, reports the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).
- 2). Choose preventative medications wisely. Preventative medications include cardiovascular drugs, antidepressants, anti-seizure drugs, cyproheptadine and Botox. Some of these medications were created to treat other medical conditions, such as high blood pressure. If you decide on preventative measures, consider your medical condition and history before taking any of them.
- 3). Treat migraines as soon as symptoms occur. Waiting to take medication usually makes symptoms worse. Widely used migraine medications include triptans, ergotamine, butalbital and opiates. Triptans are the latest in migraine treatments and many sufferers find relief quickly. In addition, some anti-nausea medications are prescribed for vomiting. Over-the-counter medications include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). It may take trying a few medications to find which one works best for you.
- 4). Consider hormone therapy. If your migraines seem to be linked to your menstrual cycle, you should ask your doctor about your options.
- 5). Keep a migraine diary. Diaries are beneficial for pinpointing triggers, especially if your migraines are frequent. Don't just write down when you get migraines, but write down what you ate, what kind of emotions you were feeling, any sensory details (strong odors, loud noises, etc.) or what kind of situation you were in before the migraine started. Since many things trigger migraines, it's best to notate everything that could be a trigger.
- 6). Limit stress. Progressive muscle relaxation, meditation, biofeedback and some forms of yoga might be beneficial for managing migraines. It's believed that reducing stress could "reduce the number and severity of migraines," says the Mayo Clinic.
- 7). Consider alternative treatments. Biofeedback can be helpful in preventing migraines, if treatment begins in the early stages of the migraine, reports the Cleveland Clinic. Acupuncture has also shown promise in some patients, according to the Mayo Clinic.
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