Migraine is a chronic neurological condition characterized by recurrent pain, often accompanied by nausea, sensitivity to light, and noise. Many individuals take pain relievers whenever a migraine attack occurs, often increasing the dosage for severe pain. However, this practice can alter the brain's pain transmission pathways.

Dr. Nguyen Phuong Trang, a first-degree specialist in neurology at the Neuroscience Center, Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, explains that frequent use of pain relievers or acute migraine medications reduces the central nervous system's adaptability, lowering the pain threshold. Common pain relievers and combination drugs containing caffeine, when used for more than 10 to 15 days per month over an extended period, risk worsening headaches. Attacks tend to become more frequent, prolonged, and less responsive to medication. Treating migraines aggravated by medication overuse is more complex. Doctors must focus on adjusting pain medication and implementing preventive treatments to decrease attack frequency and prevent recurrence.

Patients receive transcranial magnetic stimulation for migraine headache treatment. *Photo: Tam Anh General Hospital*

Dr. Trang notes that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a non-invasive method used for migraine treatment, particularly for patients with chronic headaches, sleep disorders, or anxiety. Magnetic waves target cortical areas involved in pain transmission and regulation, helping improve the frequency and severity of migraine attacks. This method is highly safe, allowing patients to resume normal activities after treatment. Protocols are often individualized and can combine with botox injections and lifestyle modifications for long-term migraine control, reducing reliance on medication.

Botox injections are also indicated for chronic migraine treatment. They target specific anatomical points in the head and neck, inhibiting the release of pain-causing mediators and reducing nervous system hypersensitivity. Botox helps decrease the number of headache days each month and lessens the need for prolonged pain reliever use.

Individuals with migraine should consult a neurologist if headaches occur more than 10 days per month, attacks are prolonged, or pain relievers become less effective. An accurate diagnosis is crucial to distinguish chronic migraine from medication overuse headache, enabling the selection of appropriate treatment. Effective migraine control requires a combination of medical therapy and lifestyle adjustments, including adequate sleep and stress reduction.

Trong Nghia