Headaches are common, and we’ve all probably had one of them occasionally. A headache that occurs frequently is a symptom of a headache disorder, which is disabling and painful. Since June is National Migraine and Headache Awareness Month, read more about how Carmichael’s Compounding and Retail Pharmacies can help with headache and migraine treatment. Headaches can occur in any part of the head or on both sides of the head. They can last from less than an hour up to several days. There are three types of primary headaches:

 

• Cluster headaches are characterized by intense pain, often in or around one eye, and usually occur around a particular time of year.
• Migraine headaches produce severe throbbing pain, usually in the front or side of the head, and may cause light-headedness, light sensitivity, and nausea.
• Tension headaches include mild to moderate pain as pressure or tightness on both sides of the head and may feel like a band around the head.

 

The most common headache disorder is tension-type headache, according to the World Health Organization. Tension-type headache affects over one-third of men and over one-half of women. It is hormonally driven and up to three times more common in women than men. Migraine headaches often start at puberty and most often affect those between 35 and 45 years old. However, it can trouble young people including children.

 

Migraine Treatment Options

 Migraines are a common health issue without an exact cause or a specific cure for each person who suffers from them. Doctors recommend lifestyle changes and prescribe medicines, including compounded medications, as treatment to manage pain associated with an episode. Your treatment choices depend on the frequency and severity of your headaches, whether you have nausea and vomiting with your headaches, and other medical conditions you have. If your headaches are getting more frequent and intense or you’re getting several migraines a month, your doctor may prescribe a triptan or ditan. These are the most prescribed for migraine and are meant to be taken on an as-needed basis as soon as signs and symptoms begin. They are administered in pill form, but some are available as a nasal spray or an injection.

Medications that are taken daily for migraine prevention include a range of drugs available for off-label use. These types of medications prescribed by a physician are drugs that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved to treat a condition different than your condition. This practice is legal and common. Keep in mind that excessive use of medication to treat headache symptoms may cause a medication-overuse headache, which may result in difficulty concentrating, nausea, neck pain, restlessness, nasal congestion and more. A sudden, severe headache that intensifies quickly is a thunderclap headache. Seek medical attention immediately if you experience this type of headache.

 

Compounded Treatment for Migraines

Carmichael’s Compounding Pharmacy can work with the patient and the prescribing doctor to prepare a customized dose and form of medication for the desired relief. Standard treatments for migraines may not address nausea that can occur. Our compounding pharmacists also can include a safe ingredient in the formulation to control nausea, which is one of the many ways we customize medications to meet the individual needs of the patient. Medication used to treat a migraine is usually delivered in pill form, but our Compounding Pharmacy can provide other forms of medicines used to treat a migraine and more medical conditions, such as:

 

• An alternative for patients who suffer from allergies to specific ingredients found in mass-produced drugs
• The substitution of liquid versions for easier swallowing
• Flavored medicines for taste alternatives
• Topical applications and other methods of administration
• Customized preparation of medicines that have been discontinued by a manufacturer
• A variety of dosages and concentrations not addressed by commercially available products

 

Filling A Prescription

Carmichael’s Retail Pharmacy fills prescription medications as well as providing complementary over-the-counter (OTC) medications that are commonly recommended to treat headaches. We offer acetaminophen, aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), and other OTC medications. Carmichael’s Retail and Compounding Pharmacies in Crowley, Louisiana, provide several convenient ways to fill prescriptions. You can order refills by telephone or online, as well as on the Carmichael’s “RxLocal” app on Android and iPhone mobile devices. You can also schedule them for pickup or delivery directly to you. We ship certain home medical products from our in-house UPS station. Our interactive voice response system at our Crowley location is available for requests for any non-emergency prescriptions and refills at times other than during our normal hours of operation.