Migraine Basics
Migraine headaches typically involve these 3 phases
What are the premonitory phase, migraine or headache phase, and the postdrome phase.
Premonitory - symptoms may appear up to a day before migraine, include fatigue, irritability, changes in bowel habits, neck stiffness, or traditional aura symptoms.
Postdrome - can last from 24-48 hours after and can cause difficulties in concentrating or thinking clearly, fatigue, depressed or euphoric mood
This tyramine containing dairy product is a common migraine trigger.
What is cheese?
The frequency of migraine attacks that warrant prophylactic intervention.
What is one episode per week or three to four episodes per month?
These two medications are indicated as first line treatment for mild to moderate migraine attacks.
What are NSAIDs and acetaminophen?
Symptoms include flashing lights, vision changes, numbness or tingling in the fingers, lips, tongue, or lower part of the face. Rarely muscle weakness or changes in speech.
What is aura?
Hot dogs and cured meats are a common source for this food additive that can trigger a migraine attack.
What is nitrite?
This class of medication, often used to treat hypertension, reduces the frequency of migraines in up to 80% of people.
What are beta blockers?
Class of medication used to treat resistant or severe migraine symptoms. Comes as oral tablet, nasal spray, or injection.
What are triptans?
The time frame for the duration of a migraine.
What is 4-72 hours?
This food item containing phenylethylamines, theobromine, and caffeine acts a migraine trigger in some individuals.
What is chocolate?
This medication, often used to treat diabetic neuropathy, has shown efficacy in reducing migraine frequency.
What is gabapentin?
Glucocorticoid given by injection with other class of medication to to reduce the risk of migraine recurrence.
What is dexamethasone?
Stress, birth control pills, physical exertion, fatigue, sleep deprivation, hunger
What are common migraine triggers?
The tyramine and histamine in these two types of alcoholic beverages make them more likely to trigger migraines.
What are beer and red wine?
This common anti-epileptic medication has shown reduction in migraine frequency similar to beta blockers.
What is Depakote?
Complication that can occur with overuse of migraine treatment medications leading to increased frequency and severity of attacks and often requiring larger doses of medication for treatment.
What are medication overuse headaches?
These four food ingredients and additives are common triggers for many migraine sufferers.
What are nitrites, glutamate, aspartate, and tyramine?
It is useful to keep this record of foods consumed and migraine episodes to help reveal potential food triggers.
What is a food or migraine diary?
This newly approved class of monoclonal antibody medication blocks pain transmission. Brand names include Aimovig, Ajovy, and Emgality.
What are CGRP inhibitors?
This triptan comes in tablet, nasal spray, and injectable form.
What is sumatriptan?