My mom had migraines and so do I. So far, my children do not show any signs of them (thankfully). I think I read somewhere that it is hereditary, or if not heridatary, then the chances of you getting migraines are much higher if someone in your family has them also.
As for preventative, If you can find out what your triggers are (mine are alcohol and lack of sleep) then you should be able to control them enough that you don't need a daily pill. If you are having more than one a week, I would talk to your neurologist about a preventative. They didn't work well for me. Topamax caused really bad side effects for me and was not worth it. Since then I have been taking axert at the first sign of a migraine and that usually stops it, but in the instance that it doesn't, an imitrex injection does. I have had about 10 migraines in the last 4 months and only one was not stopped with my medication. Much better improvement.
I think that you just have to find the right combination of meds for your body. It took me 8 years to get them figured out.. My neurologist would give me samples of meds to try before he wrote me prescriptions so I could weed out the ones that didn't work, and wouldn't spend lots of money on worthless prescriptions.
Hope I have helped some...
Tracy
Diagnosed UC october 2004
Asacol 3x3 daily
tried Rowasa enemas (hated them...burned like crazy)
Ccurrently in remission.... no blood or D...
Sleep Apnea
bulging disc in lower back causing me tons of pain from car accident in July
currently in PT for back... not helping.. (2x week)
Chiropractor for back...not helping (3x week)
DDD L4-S1
Tramadol for pain in back 50 mg 4 times a day
4000 mg of tylenol for pain
Amatriptyline for pain 10 mg 2 or 3 daily
Glucosamine for pain in back (doc said try this in addition)
TENS unit for home... seems to help some when I am standing for long periods of time
Imitrex for migraines (injections only work)
paxil
xanex for anxiety as needed