2005-08-29
Barbara Lantin

About one person in 10 will have a migraine attack this year; almost one in five will suffer from the condition at some point in life. One study estimated that about six million people in the United Kingdom get migraines, with twice as many women affected as men.

Conventional treatments

There is no single treatment that works for everybody, and finding the right one for you can be a process of trial and error. Doctors normally recommend starting with over-the-counter remedies such as aspirin, paracetamol or ibuprofen.

Frequent migraines sufferers can use preventative drugs

"It is important to take a sufficiently high dose at the right time," says Anita Few of the Migraine Action Association. "If you normally take two tablets, you should take three for the first dose only, and the sooner the better." Some people find that anti-sickness drugs make painkillers more effective and reduce vomiting.

Stronger analgesics such as diclofenac and paracetamol with codeine are available over the counter or on prescription. If these do not work, your GP may suggest one of the triptans - a range of migraine-specific drugs that work like serotonin, narrowing the blood vessels in the brain. There are seven triptans. They are very effective, but you may have to try several before you find one that works for you.

People who suffer frequent migraines may be offered preventative drugs including beta blockers, antidepressants and anticonvulsants.

Complementary therapies

Complementary medicine is usually used as a preventative measure. Acupuncture is endorsed by the British Medical Association as an effective treatment. Some trials have shown good results, with one suggesting that acupuncture could be as effective as a triptan in preventing early symptoms from developing into a full attack.

In his Desktop Guide to Complementary and Alternative Medicine (Mosby, £29.99), Prof Edzard Ernst of the Peninsula Medical School, Exeter, recommends biofeedback, a method of training the body to produce certain responses that help to control symptoms. However, some researchers have concluded that the good results may be due to the placebo effect. Some sufferers find yoga and the Alexander technique help, while others swear by manipulation therapies such as osteopathy and chiropractic. Other non-medical treatments include dental splints and tinted glasses.

The herbs feverfew and butterbur have been shown to work in trials. Among the supplements, there is anecdotal evidence for high daily doses (500mg) of magnesium with co-enzyme Q10 and 400mg of vitamin B2. As taking one B vitamin in isolation is not recommended, buy a vitamin B complex and top up to 400mg with B2 tablets.

The Migraine Action Association; 01536 461333, www.migraine.org.uk