In North America, more than 1 in 10 people have migraine headaches. Your pharmacist can provide migraine treatment and advice to help manage the pain.
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Migraine is a complex disorder involving the brain and the blood vessels around the brain and head. The brain may become hyperactive in response to certain environmental triggers, such as light or smells, for reasons that are not known. This starts a series of chemical changes that irritate the pain sensing nerves around the head and cause blood vessels to expand and leak chemicals which further irritate the nerves. A migraine will typically last anywhere from 4 to 72 hours.
While migraine does seem to run in families, a clear genetic cause has only been nailed down for one rare type of the disease called familial hemiplegic migraine.
Although we don't know the precise causes of migraine, we are aware of potential triggers – habits and circumstances that are associated with the onset of a migraine headache.
The number one trigger is hormonal changes. Two-thirds of women sufferers only get headaches around the time of their period. Migraines in women are usually worse around puberty, and they tend to disappear around menopause.
If you're taking medication(s) for migraines, your pharmacist can help you manage symptoms and side effects, review your medications, and more.
A migraine is no ordinary headache. Pain ranges from mild to severe and isn't necessarily the only symptom. Migraines can also trigger nausea and vomiting. In some people with migraines, visual disturbances called "auras" (like zigzag flashes and disco-ball effects) often precede the actual pain, and may come before the migraine starts. A migraine "attack" can last from 4 to 72 hours. The agony usually stops people in their tracks, it disrupts work and play activities, and many sufferers need to retreat and rest until the migraine is over.
There's the classic tension headache (think vanilla, so common that just about anyone who's got a head has experienced one). Eyestrain, fatigue, and stress (mental or emotional) are all key ingredients in this flavour. These headaches are usually dull, with pressure around both sides of the head.
Next on the list is the sinus headache. It often comes on during or after nasal congestion or a sinus infection, causing pain around the forehead or the face. It is commonly worse in cold, damp weather and in mornings. It lessens in afternoons.
Then there's the cluster headache, which, just as the name implies, comes in clusters or groups. Pain can range from one to several headaches a day. Episodes usually last for 6 to 12 weeks. Unlike migraines or tension, pain is short but very intense — usually on one side of the head. For some unknown reason, they affect more men than women.
Trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias are a group of headaches that are very rare — but when they strike, they can be extremely painful. They can come without warning and usually last for less than an hour — generally 15 to 45 minutes — but may occur frequently over a small period of time.
Rebound headaches may develop as a result of medication overuse. If you take headache medication more than twice a week, or not as recommended by your doctor, you could experience further headaches. As you use it, your body gets used to the medication, so when the headache medication wears off, your body may experience withdrawal symptoms. This can cause a cycle of getting a headache and taking more medication. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about how to safely reduce the use of these medications while managing your headaches.
Rarely, certain headaches can be a sign of a serious problem. For example, headaches that appear out of the blue with fever and a stiff neck could point to a case of meningitis. Neurological symptoms plus weakness, trouble speaking, vision problems, dizziness, or coordination problems can be a warning of a stroke.
Migraines are more severe and last longer than regular tension headaches. They often affect only one side of the head, are accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and noise. Migraine headaches are often made worse by movement or bending over.
About 1 in 4 migraine sufferers experience an "aura" just before the headache comes on. Auras are visual effects that can include flashes of light, lines with vivid colours, or double vision. Occasionally patients may feel weak or slur their words. These symptoms usually disappear after 15 to 30 minutes, only to be replaced by crushing pain and, in some cases, severe nausea.
Keep a detailed headache diary recording what you ate, your stress levels, sleep patterns, and environmental factors before each migraine. Over time, patterns may emerge that help you identify and avoid your specific triggers. Your Rexall pharmacist can provide guidance on tracking your migraines.
There are two basic types of migraine medication: acute medications are used to control the symptoms of an existing migraine headache, and prophylactic medications are taken to prevent migraine headaches.
Your pharmacist can help you understand your migraine medications, ensure proper timing and administration, identify potential drug interactions, recommend over-the-counter options for mild migraines, suggest trigger-tracking methods, and provide advice on lifestyle modifications to reduce migraine frequency.
All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2025. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/condition/getcondition/Migraine
