A migraine is an intensified type of headache which attributes nausea, vomiting visual scotomas or even hemianopsia, and speech abnormalities. It is caused by these characteristics, however, are not part of “Common migraine”

Pathology:

A migraine involves the Trigeminal nerve which is responsible for sending pain, touch, and temperature sensations from the head to the brain. These nerves release the calcitonin gene-related peptides which are extreme vasodilators. Mechanical stretching caused by the perivascular oedema activates the pain nerve and the onset of a headache my also sometimes be increased by the increase in the magnitude of the temporal artery pulsations.

Treatment:

Triptans, ergot alkaloids and antidepressants activate 5HT1D/1B receptors on the presynaptic trigeminal nerve endings to inhibit vasodilating peptides excessive firing of nerve endings. He Triptans and ergot alkaloids also prevent stretching of the pain endings. The use of anti-inflammatory analgesic and beta-blockers, and anti-depressants also play a role in the treatment of Migraines however the Triptans (mainly Sumatriptan) are first in line to trat migraines.