Migraines: What helps

Hi! I know a lot of people with POTS also get migraines so as a fellow migraine sufferer (and a nursing student learning about it in school) here are the things that can help:

1. Otc medications: ibuprofen, Tylenol, aspirin, naproxen (don’t take with ibuprofen) or excedrin. You can take ibuprofen and Tylenol together but be careful to check any other medications you are taking to see if they have acetaminophen in them. This is Tylenol and a lot of medications contain it as an ingredient so a lot of people accidentally overdose on it because they take multiple medications that contain it at the same time.

2. Prescription medications: Sumatriptan- for people with POTS be careful, can cause extra dizziness/ lightheadedness because it constricts blood vessels in the brain. For me it makes me feel drunk but does help a migraine so I just take at night.

Rizatriptan (Maxalt)- Rizatriptan is another triptan similar to sumatriptan that treats migraines by reducing inflammation and constricting blood vessels in the brain. It’s very fast acting and works best when taken at the first sign of migraine symptoms.

Ubrogepant (Ubrelvy)- newer class of migraine medication called a CGRP receptor antagonist. It blocks a protein involved in migraine attacks without causing blood vessel constriction so could be a good option for POTS people.

Rimegepant- another CGRP receptor antagonist, approved for both acute treatment and preventive use. It comes as an orally disintegrating tablet, offering convenient and fast absorption. Many patients prefer it for its dual purpose and ease of use.

Caffeine: can help reduce migraines but again can be tricky for those of us with tachycardia. Be aware that excedrin does contain caffeine if you are taking that.

Heat/ cold: Cold therapy helps migraines by numbing pain, reducing inflammation, and constricting blood vessels, which may ease the throbbing sensation. Heat therapy can help relax tense muscles, especially in the neck and shoulders, which may reduce migraine triggers or ease symptoms if muscle tension is a trigger for you. Some people say it helps to put cold on your head and put your feet in a very hot bath. Be careful with this if you get blood pooling though.

Darkness: we all know light sucks when you have a migraine. Stay in a dark room and avoid screens if you can. If you have to go out, wearing sunglasses can help. What I have found that works even better is Fl-41 photosensitivity lenses. They are pink tinted lenses and they really help make it tolerable to look at a screen, go outside, or have lights on when you have a migraine. There are some on Amazon that I can’t vouch for but I get mine from Zenni with my prescription in them. They cost about $100 depending on the frames you choose and your prescription but you can get $15 off if someone refers you (this is my link in case you want to try them out http://rwrd.io/py6zuks?c ). Feel free to message me if you have any questions, I have gotten 12 pairs of glasses from them over the years and love them. I also find that blue light glasses can help prevent migraines if you are looking at screens so I wear them every day.

Hydration: good hydration is key to preventing migraines. Not just water but salt! I’m sure we all know this if you have dysautonomia but drink your electrolytes!! Magnesium supplements also help some people prevent migraines but I haven’t tried that myself.

These are the things that have helped me with migraines! Please add anything that I missed. I hope this helps someone.