For some, migraine may occur in response to particular events, foods, or changes in the body.
These events are known as triggers.
Although recent evidence suggests that these triggers do not actually cause migraine, they can interact with the pain centers in your brain, potentially making you more vulnerable to attacks.
Some potential triggers are:
- Certain foods (eg, red wine, aged cheeses, foods with nitrates, chocolate, MSG)
- Stress (most often after a prolonged period)
- Caffeine withdrawal
- Medications
- Skipping meals
- Changes in sleep patterns
- Menstruation or ovulation
Identify and discuss your potential triggers with your healthcare professional as part of your overall treatment plan.
Migraine and the Menstrual Cycle
One migraine trigger can be a change in hormone levels. For women, this can happen around menstruation or ovulation and results from a drop in estrogen levels or reduced availability of estrogen in the body. Migraine attacks that regularly occur within 2 days before and 3 days after the first day of menstrual flow are sometimes called “menstrual migraines.” Other attacks that happen around a woman's period may be called “menstrually related migraine.” If you suffer from these types of migraine attacks, you are not alone. Talk to your doctor about the timing of your migraine attacks. This may help you to understand whether they may be triggered by changes in hormone levels.
Important Information About MAXALT
MAXALT is a prescription medicine for the treatment of migraine attacks in adults. Only your health care professional can determine if MAXALT is right for you. You should not take MAXALT if you have uncontrolled high blood pressure, heart disease or history of heart disease, or if you are taking or have taken MAO inhibitors within the last two weeks, or are taking certain other medications. Tell your doctor about all medications you are taking. Talk to your doctor about any history of chest pain, shortness of breath, or stroke. If you have risk factors for heart disease, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity, smoking, are postmenopausal, or are a male over 40, you should be evaluated by your doctor before taking MAXALT. Do not take MAXALT if you are pregnant or nursing. As with other drugs in this class, there have been very rare reports of heart attack and stroke generally occurring in patients with risk factors for heart and blood vessel disease.
All prescription drugs can cause side effects. In clinical studies with MAXALT, the most common side effects reported were dizziness, sleepiness, tiredness, fatigue, and pain or pressure sensation (eg, in the chest or throat). Ask your doctor to discuss with you the more complete list of side effects reported with MAXALT.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Please read the accompanying Patient Product Information and discuss it with your doctor. Also accompanying is the physician Prescribing Information.
PRIVACY POLICY