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Existing Drugs May Hold Key to Controlling Migraines
Jan 16, 2003
Most people treat migraine headaches by taking over-the-counter,
or prescription medicine when they feel the pain.
That's fine for an occasional migraine, but if you get them frequently,
your doctor may recommend a daily preventive medication. If that's
the case, he or she has new weapons in their headache arsenal.
Ada Nelken suffered migraine headaches at least twice a week
for two years.
"You get nauseated, throw up, you're just in constant pain
and nothing will help - it's like a hammer just hammering on your
head," says Nelken, describing her migraine ordeal. "It's
awful."
Nelken tried just about every migraine medication available.
But it was a blood pressure pill that made her headaches disappear.
Doctors have known for years that blood pressure pills, known
as beta-blockers, can prevent migraines. Now a new study shows
another class of blood pressure drugs may also work. They're called
ace-inhibitors.
What does a blood pressure drug have to do with headaches? The
answer may have to do with blood vessels. The drugs are designed
to affect the way vessels open and close. That may help headaches.
Blood pressure pills aren't the only option. Recent evidence
shows some anti-seizure medications, anti-depressants and botox
injections can also prevent migraines.
But these drugs can prevent migraines even if you don't have
high blood pressure, seizures, depression, or even wrinkles.
Headache specialist Christine Lay says that with all these options,
patients like Nelken should no longer have to suffer.
"If you're having two headaches or more per week, you're
probably a good candidate for preventive therapy," says Dr.
Lay, a neurologist.
"It's an incredible difference," says Nelken. "I
haven't called in for migraines for a long time. It's amazing,
it's really made a difference."
All the preventive drugs mentioned above can have side effects
like weight gain, fatigue, and dry mouth.
Luckily, most headache patients respond to very low doses of
these drugs and avoid a lot of potential side effects.
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