While there are few studies on the treatment and management of abdominal migraine, doctors may prescribe the following medications, based on their usefulness in treating migraines:
- NSAIDs (such as ibuprofen) or acetaminophen to relieve the pain.
- Triptans. This family of drugs is commonly used to treat migraine headaches and, if taken as soon as a migraine starts, can prevent symptoms from progressing.
- Anti-nausea medication. Anti-nausea drugs act by blocking chemicals in the brain that trigger vomiting.
What medications are used to treat abdominal migraines?
- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Motrin IB, Advil)
- anti-nausea medicines
- triptan migraine drugs, such as sumatriptan (Imitrex) and zolmitriptan (Maxalt), which are the only triptan drugs approved by the U.S. ...
Is there surefire medication to treat migraines?
There is no surefire solution to treat migraine pain. Instead, a patient may require a combination of treatments to address his or her migraine symptoms. Generally, an individual who is dealing with migraine pain can consult with a doctor. At this time, a doctor may provide a migraine diagnosis, as well as offer medications and other treatments.
What is the best medicine for migraines?
- have liver problems,
- have kidney problems,
- are pregnant or plan to become pregnant,
- breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.
Is medication the only relief for migraines?
There's currently no cure for migraines, although a number of treatments are available to help ease the symptoms. It may take time to work out the best treatment for you. You may need to try different types or combinations of medicines before you find the most effective ones.
What can be done for abdominal migraines?
How is abdominal migraine treated?NSAIDs (such as ibuprofen) or acetaminophen to relieve the pain.Triptans. This family of drugs is commonly used to treat migraine headaches and, if taken as soon as a migraine starts, can prevent symptoms from progressing.Anti-nausea medication.
Are abdominal migraines serious?
Abdominal migraines are often sudden and quite severe. They can hit without any warning signs. The pain may go away after an hour, or it may last as long as 3 days.
What type of doctor treats abdominal migraines?
A pediatric neurologist explains what abdominal migraine is, its symptoms and how to treat it. Abdominal migraine is a form of migraine with abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting episodes. It's different from typical migraine attacks because it doesn't usually have head pain as a symptom.
How do you treat abdominal migraines naturally?
Be sure your child is getting enough sleep, eating regular meals throughout the day, and drinking plenty of fluids (without caffeine). If your child is vomiting, give them extra fluids to prevent dehydration. Certain foods — such as chocolate and processed foods — may set off abdominal migraines.
How often do abdominal migraines occur?
An abdominal migraine is a type of migraine that causes a dull or achy pain around the stomach, rather than in the head. The condition is somewhat rare, affecting between 2% and 5% of children and 1% of adults.
Do adults get abdominal migraines?
Abdominal migraines may have the word “migraine” in their title, but they do not cause migraine headaches. Rather, they manifest as pain in the abdomen, along with nausea or vomiting. These stomachaches frequently occur in children but also can be experienced by adults, in isolated cases.
Why does throwing up relieve migraines?
According to a 2013 review paper, vomiting may help with migraine headache symptoms, because it: changes blood flow to reduce pain or inflammation. releases chemicals that ease pain, such as endorphins. occurs toward the end of a migraine episode, leading to a reduction in symptoms.
How do you treat chronic functional abdominal pain?
Different techniques include relaxation, imagery, hypnosis, and cognitivebehavioral therapy. Medications may also be used in the treatment of CFAP. For continuous or severe abdominal pain, your doctor might prescribe an antidepressant.
Why do migraines affect my stomach?
The link between migraine and stomach pain According to one study , migraine affects the brain and brainstem. The brain and gastrointestinal tract communicate directly with each other, and this connection may cause gastrointestinal symptoms to occur during migraine episodes.
How long does an abdominal migraine last?
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, an abdominal migraine episode can last between 1–72 hours . A person does not have any symptoms between episodes.
Is cyclic vomiting syndrome the same as abdominal migraine?
An abdominal migraine is a disorder primarily of children and presents as episodes of abdominal pain, usually without accompanying headache. Cyclic vomiting syndrome is characterized by severe, repeated attacks of nausea and vomiting with no apparent cause.
What is the best treatment for abdominal migraine?
Treatment. For acute treatment of abdominal migraine attacks, medications used for other forms of migraine are often employed. These include hydration therapy (particularly if there has been significant vomiting), NSAIDs, antinausea medication and the triptans.
What are the best medications for migraines?
These include pizotifen, flunarazine, propranolol, cyproheptadine and topiramate.
What are some examples of migraines?
Examples of other conditions that should be ruled out to arrive at a diagnosis of abdominal migraine include: urogenital disorders, kidney disorders, peptic ulcer, cholecystitis (gall bladder), bowel obstruction, gastroesophageal reflux, Crohn’s disease, and irritable bowel syndrome.
What age is the most common migraine?
Abdominal migraine is a form of migraine seen mainly in children. It is most common in children ages five to nine years old , but can occur in adults as well. Abdominal migraine consists primarily of abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. It is recognized as an episodic syndrome that may be associated with migraine, ...
Can a child have a migraine?
Abdominal migraine is a sub-type of migraine seen mainly in children. It consists of episodes of abdominal pain with nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite or pallor. Between episodes, there should be no symptoms. Children with abdominal migraine generally go on to develop migraine headaches later in life. People suspected of having abdominal migraine should be carefully assessed by their doctor for an underlying cause as certain gastrointestinal, urogenital or metabolic conditions may mimic abdominal migraine.
Can a migraine test confirm abdominal migraine?
As with any form of migraine, there is no diagnostic test to confirm abdominal migraine. Diagnosis is achieved by reviewing family and patient medical history, physical examination and performing investigations to rule out other causes of the symptoms.
Can a child with a migraine have a headache?
Children with abdominal migraine generally go on to develop migraine headaches later in life. People suspected of having abdominal migraine should be carefully assessed by their doctor for an underlying cause as certain gastrointestinal, urogenital or metabolic conditions may mimic abdominal migraine.
What is abdominal migraine?
An abdominal migraine is a type of migraine that affects mostly children. Unlike migraine headaches, the pain is in the belly — not the head. , but sometimes adults can get them too. This type of migraine is uncommon, affecting between 1 percent. of children.
What is the best medicine for migraine headaches?
Some of the same medicines used to treat migraine headaches also help with abdominal migraines, including: nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Motrin IB, Advil) anti -nausea medicines.
What is the best medication for migraines?
triptan migraine drugs, such as sumatriptan (Imitrex) and zolmitriptan (Maxalt), which are the only triptan drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for children over 6 years old. Other medicines used to prevent migraines may prevent abdominal migraines if your child takes them every day.
Why do girls get migraines?
More girls than boys get abdominal migraines. Certain factors seem to trigger abdominal migraines, including stress and excitement. Emotional changes might lead to the release of chemicals that set off migraine symptoms. Other possible triggers include: nitrates and other chemicals in processed meats, chocolate, and other foods.
How long does a migraine last?
Each migraine attack lasts between one hour and three days. In between attacks, kids are healthy and have no symptoms. The symptoms of an abdominal migraine are similar to those of many other childhood gastrointestinal (GI) conditions — that is, those involving the digestive system. The difference is that abdominal migraine symptoms come ...
What to do if your child is vomiting?
If your child is vomiting, give them extra fluids to prevent dehydration. Certain foods — such as chocolate and processed foods — may set off abdominal migraines. Keep a diary of your child’s diet and migraine attacks to help you identify their trigger foods and avoid them in the future.
How do you know if you have a migraine?
The main symptom of an abdominal migraine is pain around the belly button that feels dull or achy. The intensity of the pain can range from moderate to severe. Along with the pain, kids will have these symptoms: nausea. vomiting. appetite loss. pale skin.
How long does a migraine last?
Abdominal migraines are often sudden and quite severe. They can hit without any warning signs. The pain may go away after an hour, or it may last as long as 3 days.
What is the best medicine for tummy pain?
Cyproheptadine, an antihistamine that also helps tummy troubles. Propranolol ( Inderal ), a kind of heart medication called a beta-blocker. Valproic acid ( Depakene, Depakote ), a medicine for seizures and bipolar disorder. Kids who have abdominal migraines should eat a nutritious diet with plenty of fiber.
Why is it so hard to diagnose migraines?
Diagnosis. It can be hard to diagnose them because kids have trouble telling the difference between an abdominal migraine and ordinary stomachaches, stomach flu, or other belly problems. Because abdominal migraines tend to run in families, the doctor will ask about relatives who have migraine headaches.
Can a migraine cause vomiting?
Abdominal Migraine vs. Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome. Abdominal migraines aren't headaches. As their name suggests, they make your belly ache instead. But they often happen as a reaction to the same triggers as migraine headaches. They can hurt a lot and cause nausea, cramps, and often vomiting. Kids whose family members get migraines are more likely ...
Do kids get migraines?
Kids whose family members get migraines are more likely to get abdominal migraines. Of all kids who have chronic stomach pain, up to 15% of them may have abdominal migraines.; they're rare in adults. More girls get them than boys. And kids who have abdominal migraines typically get migraine headaches when they get older.
Can you prescribe medicine for abdominal migraines?
Because we don't know much about abdominal migraines, doctors may treat them like other migraines. But they usually don't prescribe drugs unless the symptoms are very bad or happen a lot.
Can eating chocolate cause migraines?
Experts think that being upset or worried can affect them. Foods such as chocolate, food with monosodium glutamate (MSG), and processed meats with nitrites might trigger abdominal migraines in some people. Swallowing a lot of air may also trigger them or set off similar tummy symptoms.
Signs and Symptoms
How to Diagnose Abdominal Migraine
- Abdominal migraine is hard to diagnose and many people are diagnosed years after their symptoms start. “When people are diagnosed with abdominal migraine, the average length of time that they’ve gone with symptoms before getting diagnosed is reported as two years. ” says Dr. Greene. Abdominal pain can be common in childhood, and children may have trouble describing …
Abdominal Migraine Triggers
- It’s not clear what causes abdominal migraine. For many, the attacks happen without warning, so it can be hard to avoid triggers. However, some people may recognize factors that seem to lead to an attack. “For some children, certain foods can trigger abdominal migraine—though, in studies, food triggers seem to be actually less common than they are for even migraine,” says Dr. Greene…
Treatment Options
- Medications used for other forms of migraine can also help treat abdominal migraine when symptoms start. Acute treatment options include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), anti-nausea medications and triptans. “Many people will try oral analgesics [pain relievers] like Tylenol or ibuprofen,” says Dr. Greene. “Taking rest and lying in a...