Migraine Medications List:
They typically built up over several minutes and they can last for up to an hour. Examples of migraine aura include visual phenomena such as seeing geometric shapes or bright spots, or flashing lights, or even loss of vision. Some people may develop numbness or a pins and needles sensation on one side of their face or body, or even difficulty speaking. At the end of a migraine attack, you might feel drained, confused, or washed out for up to a day.
If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding or have heart disease, you shouldn’t take ergotamines. Ergotamines can also interact negatively with other drugs, including antifungal and antibiotic medications. The American Migraine Foundation is committed to improving the lives of those living with this debilitating disease. For more of the latest news and information on migraine, visit the AMF Resource Library. For help finding a healthcare provider, check out our Find a Doctor tool.
Starting with these can delay effective treatment, or lead some patients to give up trying to achieve relief, Dr. Natbony adds. If you regularly have signs and symptoms of migraine, keep a record of your attacks and how you treated them. Then make an appointment with your health care provider to discuss your headaches. It isn’t clear how beta-blockers sell work to prevent migraine attacks, but they may have different actions on the brain and reduce stress, which is a trigger for migraine. This class of medications is used to treat cardiovascular conditions such as high blood pressure. Two of these types of medications are FDA approved for migraine prevention (propranolol and timolol).
In addition, Dr. Michael says patients should tell their doctor about any past allergies they’ve had, as well as whether they are pregnant or plan on becoming pregnant. Certain anticonvulsants (anti-seizure medications) can prevent migraine. Topiramate (Topamax’) is a commonly used anticonvulsant for migraine prevention. Acute medications are taken on an as-needed basis at the first sign of a migraine attack. Once a patient suspects an impending migraine attack, he or she can take an acute medication to stop the migraine as early and quickly as possible.
This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Data sources include Micromedex (updated 3 Mar 2024), Cerner Multum’ (updated 4 Mar 2024), ASHP (updated 10 Mar 2024) and others. New, promising treatment options are coming out, and these breakthroughs offer hope for better migraine symptom relief and prevention.
In about a third of people living with migraine, aura might occur before or even during a migraine attack. Aura is the term that we use for these temporary reversible neurologic symptoms. They’re usually visual, but they can include other neurologic symptoms as well.
Ibuprofen is one of the many nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that can be used to treat migraine. NSAIDs are often used to treat symptoms like pain, inflammation, and fever. Vyepti is given intravenously (IV), while Nurtec ODT is taken in pill form. Nurtec ODT is also approved to treat a migraine after it starts, making it the only medication available to both treat and prevent migraines. CGRP inhibitors are in a class of biologic drugs called monoclonal antibodies, which means that rather than being synthesized from chemicals, they are produced by altering the DNA inside of living cells. They work by targeting a protein in the brain and nervous system that plays a role in the progression and pain of migraines.
If your migraine attacks last a long time hours or more — your doctor may prescribe the steroid drug prednisone to shorten them. This drug can have serious side effects, including dizziness, sleep issues, more hints and more headaches. It’s important to take it exactly as your doctor tells you to. Anti-CGRP treatments include injections specifically designed to bind to or block CGRP to prevent migraine attacks.
Calcium channel blockers are typically used to reduce blood pressure. However, they may also be considered for migraine, though evidence for efficacy is mixed. The calcium channel blocker verapamil, a generic or available as get the facts Calan or Veralan, is considered as an off-label treatment for this condition. Along with making certain lifestyle changes and working to prevent exposure to triggers, medications play a central role in migraine management.
For people who get migraine headaches regularly, some medications can help to reduce the number and severity of episodes. However, ergot alkaloids may cause blood vessels to narrow, which can have serious side effects. They may also interact with other medications, so it is important to inform a doctor about any other medications a person is taking.