Migraines affects countless people worldwide, causing chronic headache pain in addition to other related symptoms. These include visual disturbances and nausea. Many people take pain medications for relief once a migraine has begun; however, migraines may also be prevented by taking certain medications regularly. These include heart medications such as calcium channel blockers.
Migraine Headaches
Migraine headaches are complicated and painful. While there is no certain cause of migraines, they are known to be neurological in nature, triggered by different changes that can take place in the brain. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, malfunctioning calcium channels may play a large role in migraine headache attacks.
What are Calcium Channel Blockers?
Calcium channel blockers are medications that alter the way the calcium channels in the body's cells work. Their use can increase the amount of oxygen in the heart's blood supply, which, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center, decreases its workload and helps constricted blood vessels relax. While calcium channel blockers were originally designed to treat cardiac conditions, they can also be effective for migraine prevention.
Migraine Prevention
There are two types of migraine drugs. One type relieves migraine pain when attacks occur, such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen. The other type prevents attacks from occurring inthe first place, or reduces the amount of potential migraine attacks. Calcium channel blockers fall into the latter category. According to the Mayo Clinic, almost half of all migraine sufferers could prevent some of their attacks by taking prevention medications such as calcium channel blockers. However, they also add that only around ten percent of migraine sufferers actually use them. While calcium channel blockers may not prevent migraine attacks completely, they can reduce their severity or intensity.
Types of Calcium Channel Blockers
Calcium channel blockers may be taken orally, though they are also available in an injectable form. Some examples of calcium channel blockers include diltiazem and verapamil, the latter of which the Mayo Clinic reports is the type most commonly used for migraine prevention. Because they do not necessarily prevent all migraine attacks from occurring, calcium channel blockers may be combined with other pain relieving drugs on an as-needed basis. However, they require a doctor's prescription for purchase.
Warning
The Migraine Awareness Group lists several warnings for people who take calcium channel blockers for migraine prevention. First, they may worsen certain medical conditions, such as heartbeat irregularities, Parkinson's disease and depression. In addition, calcium channel blockers may affect children and elderly adults differently than the average adult. Their use by these populations may require closer monitoring. Finally, they may interact with certain other medications, including corticosteroids and diuretics. If you take calcium channel blockers, be sure to discuss any concerns with your doctor.
