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Treatments for Basilar Migraine

A basilar migraine, sometimes called a basilar artery migraine or a basilar type migraine, is a rare type of headache in which sufferers experience symptoms such as visual auras, blurred vision or blindness in conjunction with a migraine headache. A basilar migraine results in severe throbbing, generally at the base of the neck, and many people also develop severe dizziness as a result. As with other types of migraines, people with basilar migraines may also experience nausea and vomiting and extreme sensitivity to light.

  1. Diagnosis

    • Because a basilar migraine can manifest similar to a stroke, the first course of action will be to rule out a stroke as the cause of the symptoms. Patients will generally undergo imaging tests such as an MRI or CT scan. Additionally, it may be necessary to see if the arteries in the brain are clogged, which can cause a stroke. In the event a person is experiencing seizures, an EEG may be performed to check brain activity and function. Once a stroke or brain aneurysm has been ruled out and a basilar migraine has been diagnosed, a course of treatment can begin.

    Medications

    • The most commonly prescribed prescription drug used to treat basilar migraines is verapamil. It is generally taken once or twice a day. For patients who regularly experience basilar migraines, such as once or twice a month, daily therapy may be needed, at least over a period of months or a year. For people who experience them rarely and sporadically, it may be best to treat it with prescription pain medications as they occur. For patients who cannot take verapamil, a beta-blocker such as Inderal may be prescribed.

    Other Migraine Treatments

    • Most migraines are treated differently from basilar migraines. In general, people who suffer from regular migraine headaches are prescribed drugs called triptans, such as Imitrex, Maxalt, Zomig, Frova and Amerge, or ergotamine tartrate, such as Wigraine and Ergomar. These drugs are generally not used to treat basilar migraines, but new research has suggested that they may, in fact, be a useful treatment. Additionally, people who suffer from regular migraines are often told to avoid stimuli that can trigger a migraine. This will not be effective in trying to prevent basilar migraines.

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