How can I ease this awful pain if I can’t get my migraine pills?

I HAVE battled crippling migraines for many years and they are usually managed by Migraleve tablets. But my GP tells me there is a national shortage of the drugs. Are there any suitable alternatives? IT IS estimated that about six million Britons regularly suffer migraines. Migraleve has been one of the most popular treatments for several years.

The drug comes in two versions – yellow and pink. The yellow tablets are taken at the start of the headache and contain a combination of two painkillers – codeine and paracetamol.

Pink ones also contain an extra anti-sickness ingredient, plus another compound that helps with the other symptoms of migraine.

Both forms of the drug are highly effective and many patients find they provide the relief they need. But since the summer of 2018, there has been a worsening shortage – I’ve seen many patients unable to access the medicine for more than a year.

However, there are alternatives from your GP that are just as effective. These include commonly used drugs known as triptans, which come in the form of pills, nasal sprays and even wafers that melt on the tongue.

They need to be taken as soon as you feel a migraine coming on and may not work when taken during an aura – where patients also experience flashing lights, blind spots or tingling in the hands and face.

Anti-sickness drugs, such as prochlorperazine and metoclopramide, are also available on prescription and can help some patients. Topiramate, often given to treat epilepsy, can help too.

Otherwise, beta-blockers that are sometimes used to treat anxiety – such as propranolol – can be effective. OVER the past year I’ve noticed my left eyelid has started drooping. It’s not affecting my sight but my doctor says to just wait and see what happens. Should I be worried? A DROOPING eyelid is commonly caused by a condition called ptosis. The muscle involved with opening the eyelid stops working effectively, leaving it partially shut all the time. It’s not only a cosmetic problem – it also interferes with vision, depending how much your eyelid opens. It can also cause uncomfortable eye strain and aching.

Ptosis can occur in later life simply due to ageing and a weakening of the muscles, or due to an injury. But there can also be other, serious causes, such as nerve diseases, a stroke or a tumour affecting the nerve or muscles of the eyelid.

If no underlying cause is found, surgery to correct ptosis is usually performed, particularly if vision is affected. During the operation, the muscle is corrected, making the eyelid function again. Far more commonly, drooping eyelids are caused not by nerve or muscle damage, but by excess skin of the upper eyelid.

The eyelid becomes more hooded, sagging with age or sun damage. It is considered a cosmetic issue and treated with an operation called blepharoplasty. However, this is generally not offered on the NHS unless vision is compromised.

Done privately, it can cost between £2,000 and £6,000.

Whatever the cause of a drooping eyelid, surgery is the only option. It is important for a doctor to confirm the cause, as the underlying problem could be serious.