The pharmaceutical industry is a discourse community in itself. There are many professionals that are included in this group, and it takes many years of school and training to become a part of this. Pharmacists use medical journals, websites, and magazines, among others to share the flow of information and advances in technology that occur within this field. To become a member, a person would need at least a Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy and then a couple of years of training to gain the knowledge to be able to effectively ingratiate them within this discourse community. The reason I would like to become a part of this community is because of migraine headaches. I have been experiencing these for as long as I can remember, and after serving in the military, they have only increased in pain and frequency.
Migraine headaches are a common disease that is prevalent in the United States. It affects 36 million people, and almost everyone had experienced one, or knows someone who has. According to the Migraine Research Foundation, 1 in 4 U.S. households includes someone with migraine. (Accessed September 21, 2014) More people suffer from migraines than diabetes and asthma combined, over 10% of the population (Migraine Research Foundation) many know that migraines cause debilitating pain, light sensitivity, nausea, and vomiting. According to the Migraine Research Foundation, every 10 seconds some in the United States goes to the emergency room for a headache or migraine, and more than 90% of sufferers are unable to function or work normally during a migraine attack. (Accessed September 21, 2014)
Despite the prevalence of migraine occurrence, the cause of migraines is not readily known. However, genetics and environmental factors appear to play a role. (Mayo Clinic, 2014) Migraines may be caused by changes in the brainstem and its interactions with the trigeminal nerve, which is a major pain pathway. It is known that serotonin, which regulates pain, decreases during a migraine attack. (Mayo Clinic, 2014) Some triggers include salty or spicy foods, stress, sensory stimuli, changes in sleeping patterns, as well as physical exertion. Women are three times more likely to experience a migraine than a male; however, before puberty males suffer more than girls. (Migraine Research Foundation)
Many children suffer migraines, but children often go undiagnosed. Migraines tend to run in families, and if a single parent experiences migraine headaches, the child is 40% likely to experience them as well. If both parents experience migraines, the rate increases to 90%. In adults, about 18% of women and 6% of men will experience migraines. (Migraine Research Foundation)
Migraine medications do not cure migraines, however. They try either to attack migraines, by preventing migraines, or to relieve migraine symptoms. Many sufferers rely on over the counter medications, such as Excedrin migraine, to get through the attack. There are currently no medications that can prevent a migraine. Many however are used to keep migraines at bay, which can include medications such as antidepressants, antiseizure medication, blood pressure medicine, and some herbal treatments. (Rxlist.com)
Many over the counter medicines include analgesics, NSAIDS, and caffeine such as aspirin, naproxen, ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and can even be a combination of these. (Rxlist.com) Physicians may also prescribe medications called triptans that help constrict blood vessels and bring an interruption of the chemical events that can lead to a migraine. These include almotriptan, sumatriptan, naratriptan, frovatriptan, rizatriptan, eletriptan, and zolmitriptan. (Rxlist.com)
Side effects of migraine medications include nausea, sleepiness, tingling, flushing, chest and throat tightness, fatigue, depression, insomnia, dizziness, low blood pressure, weight gain, constipation, dry mouth, and decreased libido. (Rxlist.com)
Most prescription medication prescribed work in one of the following ways: replacing substances in your body that are lacking, destroying organisms, which have invaded the body, and changing the way cells function. Medications are classified in how they affect the body, generic name of the medication or the brand name the manufacturer decides on. (Migraine Trust, 2014)
This is important because many consumers of migraine medication may think they are utilizing a very different product to help combat their migraine symptoms, and end up using the same combination of chemicals to treat and try to prevent migraines. Many may not know that some generic medications are the same as the brand name, and are just paying for the name. Also, if the sufferer is using a medication that does not help alleviate any of the symptoms, but decide to try another drug, knowing if it has the same chemical composition, and targets the same area of the body, it will help them to take another approach when it comes to talking to their health care provider about choosing a migraine medication.
Despite the use of medications to treat migraines, there still is no set way to prevent migraine attacks or to know exactly what causes migraines, since the triggers are different for each individual. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to try to understand the different factors that help contribute to a migraine attack, what medications are most effective at treating migraines, and any way that risk of acquiring a migraine might be lessened regardless of family history or environmental factors. The following questions will be utilized to help guide this study.
- What kind of environmental factors are included that may increase a person’s chances of getting a migraine.
- What kind of chemical combinations of prescription drugs have been most effective in treating migraine headaches?
- Why can physicians and pharmacists not create a medication that will prevent migraines from occurring?
- What over the counter medications can be combined to help alleviate the symptoms of a migraine, if taken when a sufferer knows a migraine is imminent?
- How much research has been done on sufferers of migraines before, during, and after a migraine that may be beneficial in determining factors in migraine detection, treatment, and prevention?
References
Mayo Clinic. (2014). Diseases and Conditions Migraine. Retrieved September 21, 2014, from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/migraine-headache/basics/definition/con-20026358
Migraine Research Foundation. (2014). Migraine Fact Sheet. Retrieved September 21, 2014, from http://www.migraineresearchfoundation.org/fact-sheet.html
The Migraine Trust. (2012). Medication for Migraine. Retrieved September 21, 2014, from http://www.migrainetrust.org/factsheet-medication-for-migraine-10509
RxList. (2014). Prescription Migraine Medications. Retrieved September 21, 2014, from http://www.rxlist.com/migraine_medications/drugs-condition.htm
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