Migraine Headache

The frequency of migraine may be lessened by avoiding triggers. It is useful to keep a headache journal, recording the particulars and noting possible triggers for each attack. Specific measures that may help include:

• Eating at regular times, and not skipping meals.
• Reducing the use of caffeine and pain-relievers.
• Restricting physical exertion, especially on hot days.
• Keeping regular sleep hours, but not oversleeping.
• Managing time to avoid stress at work and home.

Some drugs can be used for migraine prevention, including specific members of these drug classes:

• beta blockers
• tricyclic antidepressants
• calcium channel blockers
• anticonvulsants
• Prozac
• monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAO)
• serotonin antagonists

For most patients, preventive drug therapy is not an appropriate option, since it requires continued use of powerful drugs. However, for women whose migraines coincide with the menstrual period, limited preventive treatment may be effective. Since these drugs are appropriate for patients with other medical conditions, the decision to prescribe them for migraine may be influenced by expected benefit elsewhere.