Kevjcamp,

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I think you're confusing abortive and rescue meds. Abortive medications are those that work abort a Migraine attack in progress by working to stop the Migrainous process in the brain, thus stopping the symptoms as well. The most commonly prescribed abortive medications are the triptans (Imitrex, Maxalt, Zomig, etc.) and ergotamines (D.H.E. 45 subcutaneous injections and Migranal Nasal spray). Midrin and equivalent medications are also Migraine abortive medication, but most of them have been discontinued. You can read more about the Midrin situation in Migraine Meds Epidrinm Midrin Update 1/28/11. Rescue medications are mostly pain medications used when abortives fail or when they shouldn't be used. You can read more about the different types of medications prescribed for Migraine in Preventive, Abortive, and Rescue Medications - What's the Difference?

The reason most doctors don't prescribe triptans and ergotamines for hemiplegic Migraine is because one of their actions is constricting blood vessels to counteract the dilation of blood vessels that occurs during some Migraines and the possible increased risk of stroke from the vasoconstriction. Hemiplegic Migraine often exhibits stroke-like symptoms itself, thus the school of thought that vasoconstriction could be risky. I don't know of any studies that truly affirm this. Abortive medicaitons are usually not prescribed for people with basilar type Migraine either, but in one small study of patients with basilar type Migraine, it was not clear that abortive medications caused increased risk.

You mentioned Midrin in your profile. Midrin has never carried a warning about use for hemiplegic Migraine, but a couple of Migraine specialists recently told me that they consider Midrin and its equivalents to carry as high a risk as the triptans. One of the ingredients in Midrin, isometheptene, is a vasoconstrictor. Thus, they don't prescribe these medications for hemiplegic Migraine.

Most commonly, NSAIDs and other pain relieving medications are prescribed for helimplegic Migraine, often in combination with a medication to treat nausea. Although these can't stop a Migraine, they can relieve the pain and nausea for a few hours, hopefully long enough for the Migraine to run its course and end.

I hope this information helps.

Welcome again,