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Migraines

Migraine With Aura

Migraine Without Aura

Migraine With Aura Medications

Migraine Without Aura Medications

How Does a Migraine Happen?

What Is the Main Cause of Migraine Headaches?

Migraine Medications

Migraine is a form of headache that causes severe throbbing pain. The discomfort occurs typically on one side of the head and is accompanied by light/sound sensitivity, nausea, and vomiting. A migraine can last from hours to days and can interfere with daily life.

Some sufferers experience an aura that acts as a warning before the headache strikes. The aura includes flashes of light, blind spots, tingling on one side of the face or body, and difficulty speaking.

Types of Medications & How They Work

Migraine medications act as either a preventative or ease the pain during a migraine attack.

  • Preventative medications: Drugs taken frequently, often daily to reduce the frequency and severity of migraine.
  • Pain-relieving medications: Often called acute or abortive treatments, the drugs are taken after a migraine attack starts and can effectively stop the pain and symptoms.

Preventative Medications

  • Blood pressure lowering medications: Drugs such as propranolol (InnoPran XL, Inderal) and metoprolol tartrate (Lopressor) acts as beta blockers. Calcium channel blockers such as verapamil (Verelan) are often used to treat patients with aura.
  • Antidepressants: The tricyclic antidepressant (amitriptyline) has been shown to prevent migraines, but it can cause sleepiness.
  • Anti-Seizure drugs: Topiramate and valproate (Qudexy XR, Topamax, and more) reduce the frequency of migraine attacks, but they can lead to weight changes, nausea, and dizziness. Pregnant women or women trying to get pregnant should avoid these drugs.
  • CGRP monoclonal antibodies: Eptinezumab-jjmr (Vyepti), Erenumab-aooe (Aimovig), galcanezumab-gnlm (Emgality), galcanezumab-gnlm (Emgality), and fremanezumab-vfrm (Ajovy) are administered monthly or quarterly via injections.
  • Botox injections: Injections of Botox are administered every 12 weeks to prevent migraines.

Pain-relieving Medications

  • Pain relievers: Over-the-counter and prescription pain relievers such as ibuprofen and aspirin are often used to relieve pain but if you take too much they can lead to ulcers and bleeding in the stomach. Many migraine medications combine caffeine and acetaminophen to ease mild migraine pain.
  • Triptans: Triptans are prescription medications such as sumatriptan (Tosymra and Imitrex) and rizatriptan (Maxalt-MLT and Maxalt) work by blocking the pain pathways within the brain. They are taken either by nasal sprays, injections, or pills. If you are at risk of stroke or heart attack then you’ll want to avoid the triptans.
  • Dihydroergotamine Migranal, D.H.E. 45): Dihydroergotamine is administered either as a nasal spray or injection. The drug works best when taken only a short time after the first symptoms occur. They are most effective on migraine that lasts longer than 24 hours. Side effects can worsen the vomiting and nausea brought on by the migraine. If you have liver or kidney disease or suffer from high blood pressure or coronary artery disease then you should avoid this drug.
  • Lasmiditan (Reyvow): This drug can be used to treat migraine with or without aura. It can improve headache pain but does have a sedative effect and may make the user feel dizzy. You should avoid operating a motor vehicle or machinery for at least eight hours.
  • Ubrogepant (Ubrelvy): The gene-related peptide receptor antagonist treats migraine with or without aura. The drug can relieve pain and nausea in about two hours after taking it. Side effects can include sleepiness nausea and dry mouth.
  • Opioids: Narcotic opioid medications may help ease the pain but are highly addictive.
  • Anti-nausea drugs: These drugs may help if you suffer from nausea and vomiting during a migraine. Drugs such as chlorpromazine, prochlorperazine, or metoclopramide (Reglan) may bring relief.

Combinations of Migraine Medications

Many people combine a migraine preventative with a migraine treatment. If they should suffer from a migraine after taking the preventative, then they can find relief from the pain and nausea with the treatment.

Side Effects

Depending on the migraine treatment or preventative you may experience nausea, dizziness, sleepiness, or dry mouth as the most common side effects. Pain relievers can also cause bleeding in the stomach. Opioids may lead to addiction.

Conclusion

A migraine can disrupt your entire life and impact your happiness. Migraine preventative and treatment medications can bring much-needed relief.

 
 
 

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