How can I function normally at 25 with migraine?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am 25 and have migraines almost every day, and it is becoming very difficult to manage work alongside them. I keep thinking:

Can someone at 25 function normally at work with a migraine every single day, given that productivity is really affected?
Some days I push through, but other days it is nearly impossible to focus. Are there treatment options that can reduce frequency or intensity so I can maintain a normal routine?

It is getting quite overwhelming.

Please suggest.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

To establish a diagnosis of migraine, I need a proper history. Migraine is a clinical diagnosis, and history remains the single most important tool to confirm it. So it will be helpful to develop a plan.

Especially the duration of headache episodes, associated symptoms, triggers, age of onset, family history, and how disabling they are.

These details together help you get a clear picture of whether what you are experiencing truly fits migraine or something else entirely.

If disabling, as you mentioned, and frequently interfering with daily activities, as you mentioned, and only if we are sure of the diagnosis after you provide a detailed history as asked, that it is migraine, a trial of preventive medication like Propranolol 10 mg can be started daily.

You must monitor pulse and blood pressure after starting, maybe initially daily and then after a week, once a week, as this medication can cause bradycardia, and the pulse rate should be more than 60 before starting. Dose of the same can be increased depending on the response.

Also, during headache attacks, you can take Naproxen 500 mg (if needed) if you have no past history of gastric ulcers, as this may trigger heartburn, stomach pain, and a few other gastric symptoms.

Medication alone is never the complete answer in migraine management. Nonetheless, a healthy lifestyle is a cornerstone in management, and daily exercise is a must to avoid triggers.

Kindly consult with your doctor and take the prescribed medication with their consent.

I hope this helps.

Thanks and regards.