Oh, the agony! Migraine headaches can stop a day in its tracks and drive sufferers into dark, quiet rooms, with icy-cool washcloths draped over their foreheads — anything at all in hopes of relief. While treating and managing migraine is rarely easy, there are better (and, of course, worse) ways to address the pain. Olajide Williams, MD, attending neurologist and director of the Stroke Program at Harlem Hospital Center and an assistant professor of neurology at Columbia University in New York, offers these tips:

Stop popping pain pills


One of the first things I tell my migraine patients is "Do not abuse over-the-counter analgesics." It’s understandable to want to reach for the nearest thing when your head is throbbing, but most people don’t realize that they’re doing more harm than good. Self-medicating more than two to three days a week, or at least 10 days per month for more than three months, can cause a rebound condition called “medication-overuse headache.” This means your occasional migraine can transform into a cycle of chronic, daily headaches or a headache that is present for at least 15 days a month. Almost all migraine drugs, nonprescription and prescription, have the potential to cause a medication-overuse headache. But those that contain aspirin, acetaminophen, caffeine or barbiturates tend to be the worst offenders. So, if you find yourself over-relying on such pills and your headaches are not getting better, talk to your doctor about a better management plan.

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A lot of my patients can’t believe it when I recommend Botox for their migraines. But it’s becoming a more mainstream treatment option, with mounting scientific evidence to support its effectiveness. The basic premise is that muscle stress can act as a migraine trigger. So, just as Botox injections to the face can decrease wrinkles by relaxing facial muscles, Botox injections to the brow, forehead and head have been found to reduce the frequency and severity of migraines — sometimes providing several months of relief at a time.