Treatment for Hormonal Migraines
- There are two basic types of medications for treating menstrual migraines--preventative and abortive. Preventative medications are taken every day in order to reduce the woman's chances of getting an attack. These are all off-label uses for these medications, which include beta blockers, calcium-channel blockers, antidepressants and anti-seizure medications. Abortive medications work on killing the pain once an attack starts. These include over the counter painkillers to prescription triptans, ergotamine or opiates. Abortive medications work best when taken immediately upon realizing that a migraine is starting.
- The body often gives out warning signals before the pain of a migraine hits. Auras are common. These are painless hallucinations in sight, sound and, very rarely, smells. Not all women with hormonal migraines will get an aura every time they have a migraine. But the body still gives off other signals, such as a pressure on one part of the face, usually above or behind one eye. Another clue is that normal light and sounds will suddenly become too oppressive. According to Dr. Judith Reichman, some women suddenly get very hungry and still others suddenly feel fatigued.
- According to "Menstrual Migraine" (Susan Hutchinson, et al, 2008), medication alone will not help reduce the number of hormonal migraines a woman will have. Since many overweight women also have hormonal migraines, "Menstrual Migraines" greatly encourages women to lose weight, stop smoking and exercise regularly. Exercising not only helps to keep down weight, but to help the woman's body get regular sleep. Sleep deprivation added to hormonal fluctuation may often be a combination that triggers migraines. Women on estrogen replacement therapy should try halting therapy, with a doctor's consent, to see if that makes any difference.
