I've never had good luck with the drug sumatriptan, but it's been the only thing prescribed to me for treatment of migraines. Today, I'm scared to do much work because I don't want to suffer another headache. Normal headaches I can stand, usually I just need to drink more water or rest, but the headache I had last night made me think I was going to vomit and kept me awake but immobilized. Every time I tried to think about something, it caused me to feel like a railroad spike was being driven into the front of my skull.
What I've read about migraines is that they can last 3 hours to 3 days. No wonder I'm scared it will come back. The sumatriptan clinical trial data suggests it can alleviate symptoms within 2-4 hours in about three-quarters of patients, based on a majority caucasian majority 40 year old majority female test group. Basically, I'm trying to decide what to do today since I still feel a bit of nausea, photophobia, and phonophobia. I don't want to get on the freeway and try to drive somewhere if it makes the pain return.
It appears sumatriptan is a member of the class of drugs that are selective serotonin receptor agonists. The agonist mimics the native ligand, as opposed to the SSRI drugs I have discussed in a previous post, which are inhibitors. What I'm impatient about is a full understanding of these issues. I wish I could order up a foolproof solution to this pain and the pain of monthly menstrual cramps.
Normally I rely on some of the above substances to get me through the pain of being a woman. The compound pamabrom is a synthetic molecule in some medicines like Pamprin. Theobromine is found naturally in chocolate and Yerba Mate. Interestingly, while caffeine is a stimulant, I read that adenosine induces sleepyness. I wish I could rest all day today. I feel frustrated that I'm no closer to understanding these issues than last night when I was cursing my bad luck and circumstance.
For Further Reading
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