|  | Conditions Treatments | Migraines

Treatments for Migraine Auras

A migraine aura is a visual disturbance that occurs along with this extremely painful form of a headache. The appearance of flashing lights is by far one of the most common aura, but you may also witness flickering spots or zigzags within your line of vision as well as blind spots or even momentary blindness. Regardless of how these auras present themselves, there are treatments available to help remedy both the visual disturbance and the migraine itself.

  1. Short-Term Medications

    • With migraine auras, the first line of defense will involve an over-the-counter medication, usually non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and naproxen. These are taken by mouth every four to six hours to treat the pain associated with the condition. Once the pain dissipates, the auras should disappear.

      If this type of medication proves ineffectual, talk to your doctor about a prescription drug. For many people with migraine auras, prescription drugs can counteract both the pain and visual disturbances. Analgesics are commonly prescribed in this situation, especially when the pain is great, but your doctor may decide to put you on some form of triptan or ergot. These medications impede the release of peptides within the brain responsible for transmitting pain, lessening the sensation as well as the associated auras.

      When a migraine with an aura causes nausea, your doctor may also prescribe (in conjunction with other forms of treatment) chlorpromazine or metoclopramide. While they may not treat the actual migraine or aura, both medications have antiemetic properties to lessen any nausea caused by the condition.

    Long-Term Medications

    • If migraines with auras are a requiring problem, you may need to use more long-term approaches to treat the condition. For this form of treatment to be an option, migraines need to occur several times within a month, or each migraine must last for over 12 hours. In these situations, your doctor can prescribe beta blockers, ACE inhibitors, anticonvulsants and even antidepressants.

    Self-Care

    • While most people can find relief with either short-term or long-term treatment plans, it is also important to put into place certain self-care measures to lessen the potential of experiencing migraines with auras. Of all the things you can do, avoiding triggers is the most effective. Bright lights and loud noises are two of the most common triggers, but migraines can also be activated by stress, foods and even fatigue, so pay close attention to your environment, stress level, diet and sleep cycle.

Migraines - Related Articles