Migraine Questions
Common migraine questions and answers
Latest
Are there any migraine medications that can also be used to treat depression and/or anxiety if these conditions coexist in a patient?
William B. Young, MD
A number of migraine preventive medications are classified as antidepressants so these medications can be used to treat both conditions when they coexist in a patient.
Are pharmaceuticals the only form of treatment in an inpatient setting?
William B. Young, MD
There are other forms of treatment for chronic migraine aside from medications. Biofeedback, cognitive behavioral therapy, and meditation are often recommended.
What is the role of sleep in migraine?
Amaal J. Starling, MD, FAHS, FAAN
Consistency is important in migraine control. Sometimes too little sleep or too much sleep can trigger a migraine attack.
What is the SEEDS method for migraine control?
Amaal J. Starling, MD, FAHS, FAAN
Dr. Amaal Starling explains the SEEDS acronym, a simple way to remember some basic lifestyle changes that we can make to empower us to control our migraine attacks
How is inpatient care used to help break the cycle of chronic migraine?
William B. Young, MD
Inpatient care for the treatment of chronic migraine usually involves a combination of a variety of medications including IV forms of DHE, antinausea medications, toradol, magnesium, and lidocaine.
Does everyone with chronic migraine have one or more of the risk factors for progressing from episodic to chronic migraine?
William B. Young, MD
Not all of those with chronic migraine possess one or more of the risk factors for progressing from episodic migraine to chronic migraine.
What are some risk factors for progressing from episodic migraine progress to chronic migraine?
William B. Young, MD
Risk factors for chronic migraine include anxiety, depression, and genetics. Other factors include a history of psychological or physical trauma and/or abuse, having had a head injury, and having problems sleeping.
Is there an educational resource about headache and migraine that is available in Spanish?
Patricia Pozo-Rosich, MD, PhD
Dr. Pozo Rosich developed a website in Spanish, www.midolordecabeza.org, that contains an abundance of educational information on headache and migraine for both patients and physicians.
If migraine is genetic, then how can some patients have no family history of it?
Patricia Pozo-Rosich, MD, PhD
Migraine has a genetic component but not everyone has a familial history of it. There are a variety of reasons for this such as gene mutations and not having a complete picture of one’s family history.
Does research show that the migraine brain is actually different?
Patricia Pozo-Rosich, MD, PhD
Research has shown that there is something different in the migraine brain in glutamate metabolism that causes the migraine brain to be hyper-excitable. There are also genes in those with migraine that are modified causing the wiring of the migraine brain to be different.
How was it first discovered that genetics played a role in migraine?
Patricia Pozo-Rosich, MD, PhD
The idea that genetics could play a role in migraine first evolved from patients simply telling their doctors that other family members had migraine. There was also a Norwegian study on pain in twins that revealed a potential genetic component of migraine.
Why are neurologists especially good at diagnosing and treating migraine and other headache disorders?
Patricia Pozo-Rosich, MD, PhD
Neurologists are usually the best at diagnosing and treating migraine and other headache disorders because migraine is a disorder of the brain.
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