Treatment Options for Migraine Headache

Prevention of Migraine Headache during Pregnancy

There are no clinical trials regarding prophylactic medication for migraine headache during pregnancy. Since the frequency of migraine headaches typically tends to diminish after the first trimester, many patients and physicians prefer to "wait it out" and try to manage migraines without medication. Some of the strategies include:

• Avoiding any known triggers of migraines
• Some pregnant women find acupuncture to be effective although there are no controlled trials that prove its efficacy.

If medication is deemed necessary for prophylaxis of migraine headache during pregnancy, drugs that might be considered include:

• Propranolol (Inderol)
• Amitriptyline (Elavil)
• Gabapentin (Neurontin)
• Toporimate (Topomax)
• Fluoxetine (Prozac) - this may be considered especially if the pregnant woman also suffers from depression.

There is no evidence that homeopathic remedies are any more effective for reducing migraine frequency than placebo treatments. Herbal medications, such as feverfew, are not recommended for usage by pregnant women since little is known about their mechanism of action and their toxicology profiles. Caution must be taken regarding traditional Oriental medicine, such as blended teas from plants, since there is insufficient knowledge regarding their chemical makeup and they could be potentially unsafe during pregnancy.