What is the nocebo effect?
In another page, we have explained the placebo effect. The nocebo effect is the negative version of the placebo effect. Placebo comes form the latin word «to please». Nocebo comes from the latin word «to harm». The nocebo effect involves symptoms that are generated by…
My migraines make me miss work. What should I tell my employer?
Telling your employer about your medical history is a very personal decision. However, if your work performance is suffering and your absenteeism is now becoming an issue, it may be time to let your employer know why this is happening. It is unfortunate that there…
I would like to avoid medications. What can I do to improve my lifestyle?
Although medication may be needed to alleviate severe pain in migraine, addressing lifestyle issues may prove beneficial to the migraineur in overall headache management and prevention. The ‘migraine brain’ does not do well with change. A well balanced lifestyle includes a routine of exercise, a…
Is it necessary to have a scan or MRI to diagnose migraine?
There is no test that will diagnose migraine. The diagnosis is based on the symptoms that you describe to your doctor. After you have described your symptoms, your doctor will examine you to make sure that there is no sign of any other reason for…
Can children be affected by migraine?
Yes! Many people think children and teenagers do not get migraines. However… 2% of children under 6 years old have migraines (approximately 1 child out of 40). 4 to 11% of children from 6 to 11 years old have migraines (approximately 1 child out of…
Is migraine’s presentation the same in children and adults?
No, there are a few differences. In children: Pain is most often located in the forehead or on both sides of the head. In adults, pain is usually located in only one side of the head. The duration of the attack is shorter. The attacks…
Why take antidepressants to treat migraine?
Antidepressants often have a bad reputation with patients. However, they are efficient when it comes to reducing the frequency of migraines. Read this article to know more about antidepressants. Clinical scenario : You consult with a migraine specialist. He or she prescribes Elavil, saying this medicine…
What do I do if I already have medication overuse and very frequent headaches?
The key is to stop the medication overuse. This is not always easy, as the headaches often become temporarily worse when the overused medication is stopped. There are five important components which are necessary for most people with migraine and medication overuse headache if they…
How to plan a preventative treatment trial?
Before starting a preventative treatment, it is important that you understand what the steps are. In order to assess the effectiveness of a preventative treatment, knowing the initial situation is required. What is the frequency of your attacks? Using a migraine diary is very useful….
STOP THE ATTACK
When you feel a migraine coming on, you only have one thing in mind: “it has to stop, otherwise I will lose the whole day.” But what medicine to take, and when? “Do I need a prescription?” This section presents treatments you can use to…
What is the best way to stop an attack?
You have to stop the attack at its onset. Treating an attack that is already well established is harder. Identifying the onset of an attack is a primordial step. To successfully control your migraines, you have to: know your attacks and be able to identify…
Help! My acute treatment does not work. Why?
No treatment is 100% effective. It happens that attacks are very strong and do not respond to usual treatments. What can you do? Adjusting the acute treatment is not always an easy task. The cause of the failure has to be identified. This table presents…
