Headache Sufferers Beware: Your Remedy May Increase Risk

If you are one of the 12 percent of Americans that get migraine headaches, you may want to think twice before reaching for that medication that seems to work only part of the time. I know, it’s crazy to think that in the midst of one of these episodes that you could even stop and think, but there is good reason to try to respond to these incidents naturally and go for the long-term relief rather than the tenuous immediate cure.

There are way too many people reaching for prescription pain medications for first response for migraines, and doctors are routinely ordering brain scans for patients with these debilitating headaches. The American Headache Society published recommendations against both these measures in the November-December issue of the journal Headache.

OxyContin , Vicodin, and the barbiturate butalbital pose serious long-term risks, the society said. The risk of dependency associated with these drugs is evidenced by the growing epidemic of prescription painkiller abuse in the United States. Opioid painkillers, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cause three fourths of prescription drug overdoses.

Using too much of these pain medications can also lead to a condition called medication overuse headache, which is the opposite of what you are trying to achieve. There is a lot of research that opioids actually increase sensitivity to pain in the head.

The studies guidelines also indicate that brain scan studies should not be performed on patients with stable headaches that meet criteria for migraine. And CT scans should not be used in a non-emergency situation as a diagnostic tool for headache patients when MRI is available. MRIs use powerful magnets and do not expose patients to radiation, as CT scans do.

In its conclusion, the study shows prolonged or frequent use of over-the-counter pain medications for headaches is also unwise. Headache sufferers shouldn't take these drugs more than twice a week due to the stress they put on the kidneys, liver or stomach.

People who experience frequent migraines can use preventive therapies such as biofeedback on a regular basis; Biofeedback is a technique that people can learn to use to help change how their body responds to physical symptoms. Think of it as yoga for the head. 

Getting enough sleep and not skipping meals can also help keep migraines away. Scientists now believe that migraines have a genetic link and that the disorder involves brain chemistry and nerve pathways.

So if you suffer from recurring migraines, you may want to think of a preventive strategy than using the quick fix of a painkiller.

Editor's Note: Excerpt below from Wellness.com reference section 

Lifestyle: Lifestyle changes, including decreasing stress levels, increasing exercise levels, and controlling the diet, have a major impact on migraine prevention and development. Lifestyle factors that are important in the prevention of migraines include regular sleep patterns, regular exercise (level depends upon the individual), limiting stress, limiting caffeine consumption to less than two caffeine-containing beverages a day, avoiding bright or flashing lights, and wearing sunglasses if sunlight is a trigger. Identifying and avoiding foods that trigger headaches is important. Healthcare professionals recommend keeping a food journal, where the individual writes down everything they have for each meal of the day. Then review the diary with a healthcare professional. It is impractical to adopt a diet that avoids all known migraine triggers; however, it is reasonable to avoid foods that consistently trigger migraine headaches. Triggers vary from one individual to another.