Most Migraineurs know that a Migraine attack is NOT a bad headache. We know that Migraine is a neurological genetic disease similar to Epilepsy. And we know that some of us don't even experience the headache phase during a Migraine attack. Recognizing the difference between head pain associated with a Migraine attack and head pain associated with a headache is difficult for some.
I've been writing a lot lately in the Migraine support group that I co-moderate about distinguishing between the two. I've discussed how to tell the difference between pain that accompanies a Migraine attack and the pain that accompanies a headache. And I've explained why it's important we make this distinction.
One reason why it's important to know these differences is because treatment for Migraine is not the same as headache treatment. For example, using a Migraine-specific medication probably won't do any good for someone who doesn't have Migraines.
The president of the German Pain Aid Association, Ruediger Fabian, now gives another reason why you shouldn't use Migraine-specific medication for the treatment of a headache. Fabian says if you do this, you risk chronic 'pseudo-migraines'. He says:
Even the occasional use of migraine medications by someone without migraines is potentially harmfuland goes on to say
The reactions depend on the person, but they can intensify ordinary headachesFabian said the first symptom of an overdose of Migraine-specific medication is "a sour-tasting expulsion of gas from the stomach". Ewwwwww! I'm not sure, but I guess that means a sour-tasting "burp".
He also said those who suffer less than 100 days a year with headaches (He didn't say Migraine) who occasionally didn't get relief from their standard medication could use extra pain medication once in a while.
Source: Migraine medication unsuitable for ordinary headaches
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