Pediatric Migraine Treatment

Pediatric migraines are intensely painful headaches that occur in children. Due to the lack of extensive testing of medication safety in children, preventative treatments are preferred. When these treatments are not enough, non-prescription medication is used to address the symptoms. Finally, if necessary, prescription medications are used to alleviate the pain of the child's headaches.

Lifestyle

• There are many aspects of a child's lifestyle that can affect their chances of experiencing migraines. One such aspect is the child's sleeping habits. Children who experience pediatric migraines should have a regular sleeping schedule in order to reduce their migraine symptoms. In addition, parents should ensure that the child's school backpack is evenly balanced, and not causing back strain, which can contribute to migraine pain. Finally, a nutritious diet combined with regular exercise can help prevent migraine attacks.

Stress

• Stress can cause the painful symptoms of migraine headaches in even very young children. A low test score, peer issues or even parental conflict can trigger a migraine in these children. In order to prevent the migraine from starting, children can use stress-relief techniques such as breathing exercises, stretching and biofeedback.

Non-Prescription Medication

• In the event that medication is necessary, children are first treated with non-prescription pain relievers, such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen. When taking medication for a migraine attack, it is extremely important for the children to take the medication as soon as the headache begins. This allows the medicine to begin working faster. If ibuprofen and acetaminophen are not successful, they should be discontinued.

Prescription Medication

• There are several prescription medications that are effective for pediatric migraines. Triptans, which are commonly used for adult migraines, have been found to be safe and effective in children over twelve years old. These medications include sumatriptan, rizatriptan and zolmitriptan. Promethazine is a medication that can both help to curb the nausea that commonly occurs with migraine, but it causes drowsiness.

Considerations

• A trigger is an event that can cause migraines to start. Specific foods, air pressure changes, and even visual events such as a flashing light can trigger pediatric migraines. Children with migraines should keep a diary to help determine what triggers their migraines, so they can avoid as many triggers as possible.