Migraines Health Center

There are 2 medication strategies used to treat migraine headaches. Treating the pain at the onset offers the best relief.

• Over-the-counter analgesics (pain relievers) such as aspirin, acetaminophen, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) such as ibuprofen
• Prescription drugs called triptans are used for headaches not relieved by over-the-counter medications.

These are generally not used for people who have high blood pressure or heart disease. For those whose headaches are not adequately relieved with these medications, the second medication strategy involves medications prescribed prophylactically (taken everyday for prevention). These medications are normally prescribed to treat other disorders but have been successful at reducing the frequency or severity of migraine headaches.

• Blood pressure medications such as beta blockers or calcium channel blockers
• Antidepressant medications such as amitriptyline or venlafaxine
• Anticonvulsant medications such as divalproex or topiramate