What Helps With Migraines Fast? Natural & Medical Relief Options

As the lives of people are becoming more and more physically and mentally strained, many are developing a problem called Migraines. Patients with this issue experience more than just a headache, and finding what helps with migraines becomes very important. A wide range of medicines works when it comes to helping people with this problem. From OTC medications to prescription ones, the availability of migraine medicines is enough for patients. Each medication can come with a risk, and patients must know those dangers too. In this blog, we will also get to know how to get rid of a migraine without medications.

What helps with Migraines? Medications And Natural Remedies Treatment

What is a Migraine?

Migraines can happen when a person is under a lot of stress or physical and emotional strain. Patients can feel discomfort in one side of their brain, and its continuity can lead to nausea and vomiting. It can attack our head suddenly, causing bad vision and mobility. Changes in diet, hormonal activity, and mental stress can also culminate in severe migraine. One can have migraines for up to hours or days, in cases where medications become a necessity. Before using any medications for migraines, a doctor’s consultation because migraines can be very serious at times, and one needs to be very cautious.

Medications for Migraine

There are many kinds of medications that help with migraines. The first recommendation of doctors will be the over-the-counter medications for migraine. That is the first line of therapy for mild and acute forms of migraine. Then come the prescription medicines. These medicines can be stronger or more potent, so they can only be taken when doctors prescribe them for us. Natural medications for migraines also exist that allow safer but shorter relief from migraines. We will discuss all these medications and understand how they treat migraines, though their mechanism and properties. Let’s start with over-the-counter medications and the drugs that help migraines.

Non-Prescription Medications

Some medicines like Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), painkillers, and anti-nausea meds are some of the best remedies that need no prescription, but should be recommended by a doctor. These are easy-to-use, less costly drugs to help mild and moderate migraines.

Ibuprofen

Ibuprofen helps with migraines by stopping these pain signals relaxes the brain, which helps with migraines. It works on prostaglandins, chemicals that produce inflammation and pain signals.

Naproxen

Naproxen also works when one has acute migraine attacks. Like Ibuprofen, this drug also stops prostaglandins from sending any pain signals to the brain. 

Aspirin

This is an analgesic medication that is used not just for migraine but for overall pain relief. Aspirin works by reducing inflammation, and also by its antiplatelet function. Often administered between 900-1300 mg, Aspirin is a single high-dose medication.

Excedrin

A mixture of Acetaminophen, Aspirin, and Caffeine, Excedrin is an excellent drug for migraines and headaches. It acts in three ways because of its three ingredients. Acetaminophen is a CNS depressant, Aspirin is the anti-inflammatory element, and Caffeine helps in constricting blood vessels.

Prescription Medications

These drugs are much stronger, but even more effective when it comes to stronger migraines. Let us take a look at some of the medications that can only be used on prescription for migraines.

Triptans

Triptans are serotonin receptor agonists that stop pain signals from reaching the brain by constricting dilated blood vessels and inhibiting neuropeptides that cause pain. Sumatriptan, Zolmitriptan, and Rizatriptan are the Triptan drugs that help with migraine.

Gepants

These are also known as CRGP antagonists. Gepants like Ubrogepant and Rimegepant directly inhibit CRGP receptors that release neuropeptides. This not only stops pain signals from reaching the brain, but it also stops any sort of inflammation.

Beta Blockers

Beta Blockers like Metoprolol and Propranolol are powerful when it comes to calming our nervous system. They carry out a lot of functions, like: 

• Regulating serotonin release in our brain.
• Blocking adrenaline from reaching the beta receptors; and
• Stopping cortisol release in the brain that causes migraines and depression.

Anti-seizure Drugs

Gabapentin, Topiramate, and Valproate are helpful in preventing migraines. They work by enhancing or increasing the effects of GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) neurotransmitters in the nervous system, which might help with seizures, but it also works in controlling migraines.

Antidepressants

There are some antidepressants that are helpful for migraines, like Amitriptyline, and SNRIs (serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors) like Venlafaxine. They calm the pain pathways by altering the two chemicals in the brain.

Natural Remedies

Besides the prescription and non-prescription drugs, migraines have a good amount of natural medications that can sometimes be recommended by a healthcare professional. 

• Supplements like Magnesium, Coenzyme Q10, and Riboflavin have shown benefits in migraine treatment. They are found in food items and medications. 
• Ginger helps with migraines as it has anti-inflammatory properties, and Feverfew is an herbal supplement that can reduce the severity of migraines. 
• Lavender and Peppermint oils help migraines by reducing pain and relaxing our muscles.

Is Migraine dangerous?

They have never really been dangerous enough to threaten our lives, but they can be very serious if not treated at the earliest. Migraines are associated with many other issues that can either be the result of longer migraines. For instance, we have migraines that can last for three days, and some migraines can be a result of any head injury or emotional trauma. Many patients report having blurry or bad vision, and some have a stiff neck. When these symptoms start showing up, switching to medications is the only option. And we must not forget to use the medications properly.

Conclusion

Migraines are not life-threatening, but they are definitely a painful neurological issue that needs utmost attention. One has to be proactive and react by taking the right medications for migraines and prevent them from affecting the overall health. Both OTC medications like Excedrin and Ibuprofen, and prescribed medications like Triptans and Gepants are very effective. Though natural remedies also exist, severe or acute migraines demand medical intervention.