A migraine is a severe headache that causes debilitating pain and makes it hard to perform daily activities. IV therapy can provide respite from severe migraines by delivering hydration, electrolytes, and vitamins directly into your bloodstream.
Read on to learn more about the benefits of migraine IV treatments.
What Is a Migraine?
A migraine is an intense headache, usually accompanied by symptoms such as sensitivity to light and sound, fatigue, nausea, and vomiting. A migraine headache can last anywhere from a few hours to several days.
People of all ages, including children, can experience migraines, although the first attack typically occurs during adolescence. Migraines gradually become less frequent and less severe with age.
What causes migraines?
The exact cause of migraines is unknown, however, research suggests that they may result from abnormal activity of brain cells. These cells trigger serotonin and other chemicals that narrow blood vessels, causing strong headaches.
Is migraine a common problem?
An estimated 35 million Americans suffer from migraines. Approximately 1 in 5 women and 1 in 16 men will experience migraine headaches at some point in their lives.
Risk factors
Some people are at higher risk of developing migraines, including:
- Women
- Anyone between the age of 35 and 45
- Individuals with another family member who suffers from migraines
- People with the following conditions:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Bipolar disorder
- Fibromyalgia
- Sleep disorders
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder.
What Are the Symptoms of a Migraine?
Many people think that a migraine is simply a splitting headache. But most migraine sufferers experience many other symptoms, from mood changes to an upset stomach.
Intense headache
The main symptom of a migraine is a severe headache that usually affects one side of the head and causes intense throbbing pain or a pulsing sensation. The pain gets worse with movement and makes it difficult to perform daily activities.
Neck pain
Around two-thirds of individuals who deal with migraines experience neck pain. During a migraine attack, the trigeminocervical complex area in the brain (a hub for pain nerves of the face and upper neck) gets activated, causing neck pain and stiffness.
Nausea and vomiting
Migraine attacks are often accompanied by nausea and vomiting. These symptoms are due to sudden changes in brain chemistry that affect the brain’s vomiting center.
Sensitivity to light and sound
About 80% of people who get migraine headaches have light sensitivity (photophobia) and 35% experience sound sensitivity (phonophobia). Individuals who suffer from chronic migraines are more likely to be sensitive to light and sound than those who only get migraines occasionally.
Other migraine symptoms
- Pale skin
- Increased appetite or loss of appetite
- Sweating or cold hands
- Drowsiness
- Depression
- Restlessness
- Surge of energy
- Excessive yawning
- Feeling tired
- Dizziness
- Blurred vision
- Tender scalp
- Diarrhea and fever (rare).
In the following section, we explain what are the most common warning signs of a migraine to watch out for.
What Are the Warning Signs of a Migraine?
The warning signs of a migraine appear between 60 minutes and 6 hours before a migraine attack and can last for several hours. Most migraineurs experience some of these symptoms, but not necessarily before every attack.
Changes in vision
As a migraine attack approaches, you may notice your vision getting blurry, experience blind spots, or see flashing lights or shapes. These vision changes can slowly get worse, although they usually dissipate within an hour.
Food cravings
Food craving is one of the main symptoms of the pre-headache phase. It occurs due to activation of the hypothalamus, a region in the brain that is involved in the regulation of appetite.
Upset stomach
Migraines commonly occur together with stomach pain and other gastrointestinal issues, such as constipation or diarrhea. Research suggests that people with frequent headaches are more likely to develop gastrointestinal disorders.
Fatigue
Warning signs of a migraine include fatigue or the feeling of extreme exhaustion. Fatigue often continues throughout the migraine attack.
Other warning signs of a migraine
- Facial changes (bloodshot eyes, swellings)
- Restlessness
- Irritability
- Increases thirst and urination
- Frequent yawning
- Sleep problems
- Dizziness and vertigo.
Factors That Could Trigger a Migraine
Migraines can be triggered by many different factors:
- Emotional factors
- Shock
- Stress
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Physical factors
- Lack of sleep
- Physical tension
- Poor posture
- Overextertion
- Jet lag
- Environmental factors
- Bright light
- Loud noises
- Changes in climate
- Smoking
- Some foods
- Chocolate
- Cheese
- Citrus fruit
- Foods containing tyramine (cured meats, yeast extracts, smoked fish)
- Caffeine and alcohol
- Dehydration
- Medications
- Hormone replacement therapy
- Sleeping pills
Migraine triggers change with age. For example, while stress is often the main trigger in children and teens, adults are mostly triggered by hormonal changes, and older individuals by pain, smoking, and alcohol.
Migraines are tough to deal with but fortunately, there are some things that may help. Keep scrolling to find out more.
How Can Migraines Be Helped?
Although there's no cure for migraines, there are ways to keep your symptoms at bay.
Staying hydrated
It is important to drink plenty of liquids during a migraine attack. Electrolyte-infused water, sports drinks, and coconut water are good sources of electrolytes and can help relieve headaches.
Over-the-counter migraine medications
Some over-the-counter medications like Excedrin Migraine, Advil Migraine, and Motrin Migraine Pain, are effective for relieving symptoms of mild to moderate migraines. These medications contain ibuprofen and acetaminophen, as well as caffeine that may ease headaches by narrowing blood vessels.
Taking supplements
Certain vitamins, minerals, and herbs, such as riboflavin, coenzyme Q10, melatonin, butterbur, and feverfew, can prevent and treat migraine attacks. They may be particularly useful for people who can't tolerate medications.
Relaxation techniques and cognitive behavioral therapy
Relaxation practices like breathing exercises, yoga, and meditation may help reduce stress and tension, which may trigger migraine attacks. In addition, through cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), you can learn how to modify your thoughts and actions to relieve migraine-related pain.
IV therapy
Severe and acute migraines are successfully treated with intravenous “migraine cocktails,” a combination of pain relief medications, IV steroids, and other ingredients that can help ease migraine symptoms including headaches, nausea, and vomiting.
Here’s how intravenous therapy can help alleviate your migraine symptoms.
How Does IV Therapy Help Migraines
IV therapy is one of the most effective ways to ease migraines. Because intravenous solutions are delivered directly into your bloodstream, you will start feeling better almost immediately after your treatment.
In addition to migraine relief, IV therapy provides many other benefits, such as increased energy levels, as well as improving your mood, and promoting relaxation.
How does it work?
At-home IV therapy is administered using the same methods that are used in hospitals. A nurse inserts a needle into a vein in the back of your hand to deliver nutrients to your body and continues to monitor you for the duration of the treatment.
A migraine IV therapy generally takes 30-45 minutes to administer.
Reset IV migraine package
Reset IV migraine packages are designed specifically for people suffering from migraines. It contains all the hydrating fluids, vitamins, electrolytes, and antioxidants that your body needs to relieve the symptoms of a migraine:
- Normal saline. This mixture of water and sodium chloride replenishes the fluids to keep you hydrated.
- Anti-inflammatory and pain relief medication. The medications block your body's production of substances that cause inflammation, which helps decrease swelling and pain.
- Benadryl. Benadryl works by blocking the histamine which causes swelling of blood vessels. Moreover, it has a soothing effect and can boost the effectiveness of other migraine medications.
- Compazine. This medication can reduce severe nausea and vomiting. It also increases the effect of other migraine medications.
- Custom add-ons. Optional ingredients such as magnesium, vitamin B12, and vitamin B complex can help bring fast relief from migraine symptoms.