Migraine Medication Names:
This means they have been established as effective and should be offered to patients who would benefit from preventive therapy. Receiving a formal migraine diagnosis is the first milestone when working with your doctor to identify a personalized and effective treatment plan. Continuing to talk with your doctor throughout the course of your treatment is important for determining the strategies that prove beneficial and those that may not be as effective. You might have tried some alternative therapies, but did you know about these complementary and integrative treatments?
More research is needed, but these drugs don’t appear to have the same risk of medication overuse headache that some other as-needed migraine treatments. Pain relievers, including aspirin, acetaminophen, and NSAIDs such as ibuprofen or naproxen, are usually considered first-line treatments for headache. If you are experiencing headaches more than twice a week, talk to your doctor as there may be more effective treatments to use.
To find a headache specialist in your area, consult our Find a Doctor tool. Then, for more information on current and available migraine treatment options, visit our doctor-verified resource library. Dr. Michael says a patient’s complete medical history will also be taken into consideration. Some migraine medications can’t be used when certain medical conditions are present, such as kidney disease and heart disease. 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.
However, they may cause side effects, such as constipation, muscle spasms, and cramps. The FDA has approved erenumab (Aimovig) for preventing migraine headaches. It blocks the activity of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), which is a molecule typically involved in migraine episodes. They work by reducing activity in the brain, which can reduce the risk of a migraine headache. Doctors may also stop treatment if migraine episodes reduce for at least 3 months. There are several OTC medications for migraine headaches that do not require a prescription from a doctor.
One option, biofeedback, focuses on tracking your body’s signs of stress and tension using a specialized device worn on the body. Since spikes in stress response can bring on attacks, wearers can learn to sense them coming, making them better able to manage their condition. Among the many benefits of a good fitness regimen is that it can reduce the severity and frequency get redirected here attacks. Not only does this improve the quality of sleep, but it can help get at conditions that can bring on migraines, such as obesity and sleep apnea. Though they can be effective, Botox injection treatments are needed once every three months. CGRP antagonists have fewer side effects than many other migraine medications, and often work where others have failed.
Consider joining our Move Against Migraine support group on Facebook so you can connect with others who live with migraine. Consider these complementary and integrative treatments, and search our Resources Library for more. Don’t give up on your search to find an integrative treatment that works for you. Our Resource Library is another great place to find information on these treatments. The content on this website is provided for educational purposes only. While it is doctor-verified, it is not intended to serve as medical advice, and users are advised to seek the advice of their doctors before making any decisions based on the information in this article.
Ask your doctor for more information about your type of migraine and how to prevent them in the long term. Migraine episodes can cause severe pain that disrupts your daily life, activities, and well-being. You can check with your doctor or pharmacist to learn more about the cost of your medication. You can also check GoodRx.com to find out the cost in your area without insurance. Ask your doctor for more information about the benefits and risks of these medications and how long they take to start working. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about the form and dosage of your migraine medication.
In particularly challenging chronic migraine cases’especially those in which other treatments haven’t yielded results’some doctors may recommend Botox injection. Basically, doctors inject a toxin made by the botulinum bacteria into specific nerves in your forehead, temples, neck, and head. these details This prevents their activity, reducing the prevalence and severity of attacks. Pregnant women who suffer from frequent migraine headaches may benefit from preventative therapy. Beta-blockers such as propranolol, metoprolol, and atenolol are generally considered to be safe options.
Your health care provider might recommend preventive medications if you have frequent, long-lasting or severe headaches that don’t respond well to treatment. The best way to partner with your medical team is to, number one, get a medical team. Many people living with migraine have not even talked to a doctor about their symptoms. If you have headaches where you have to rest in a dark room, where you might get sick to your stomach.
To achieve the biggest benefit, many people use these medications in combination to both treat and prevent migraine episodes. Migraine injections include preventive treatments, including CGRP inhibitors and Botox. They also include treatments for acute pain, this content including sumatriptan, DHE, and trigger point injections. One kind, injectable medications, can both stop and prevent migraine episodes. Let’s cover injections for migraine ‘ their types, mode of administration, side effects, and other helpful info.
Other supplements, such as feverfew, magnesium, vitamin B2, and coenzyme Q10, have been used for migraine prevention but have little data to support their efficacy. While you may have heard of Botox being utilized in migraines, it has limited data to support its use in migraine prophylaxis. While DHE is not new, methods of administering it are evolving. The FDA recently approved dihydroergotamine mesylate nasal spray (TRUDHESA’). This medication uses a proprietary nasal delivery system, which allows the medication to go deeper into the nasal cavity, offering better absorption. This offers a potentially new option for some people with migraine.
Some CGRP receptor antagonists are dosed less frequently than Aimovig (every 3 months versus every month), which may be desirable for some. Some insurance formularies may make one drug in the class significantly more affordable than others, which could change the preferred formulary product. Finally, some CGRP antagonists are indicated for the prevention and treatment of migraines, and dual approval may be preferred for some. Trigger point injections target muscles that can cause migraine episodes. A doctor or healthcare professional may target muscles of your head, neck, and shoulders for these types of injections. Injections are performed with tiny needles that contain medications that treat pain and inflammation, most commonly local anesthetics.