Saturday, February 4, 2012

Migraine Drug Information

Once you’ve been diagnosed with Migraines, your doctor may prescribe a specific drug regimen. Below you’ll find a list of common drugs prescribed for Migraines with links to information about how to take them, interactions with other meds and common side effects. If you don't see a brand name medication, check to see if the generic name listed.

Migraine Abortive Medications

  • Amerge Oral
    This medication is used to treat migraines. It helps to relieve headaches, pain and other symptoms of migraines, including sensitivity to light/sound, nausea, and vomiting. Prompt treatment allows you to get back to your normal routine and may decrease your need for other pain medications. Naratriptan does not prevent future migraines or reduce how often you may get a headache.
  • Axert Oral
    Almotriptan is used to treat migraines. It helps to relieve headaches, pain and other symptoms of migraines, including sensitivity to light/sound, nausea, and vomiting. Prompt treatment allows you to get back to your normal routine and may decrease your need for other pain medications. Almotriptan does not prevent future migraines or reduce how often you may get a headache.
  • Ergomar SL
    This combination medication is used to treat or prevent a certain type of headache (vascular headaches such as migraine headaches and cluster headaches). Ergotamine helps narrow widened blood vessels in the head, which reduces the throbbing effects of vascular headaches.
  • Frova Oral
    Frovatriptan is used to treat migraines. It helps to relieve headaches, pain and other symptoms of migraines, including sensitivity to light/sound, nausea, and vomiting. Prompt treatment allows you to get back to your normal routine and may decrease your need for other pain medications. Frovatriptan does not prevent future migraines or reduce how often you may get a headache.
  • Imitrex Oral
    Sumatriptan is used to treat migraines. It helps to relieve headaches, pain and other symptoms of migraines, including sensitivity to light/sound, nausea, and vomiting. Prompt treatment allows you to get back to your normal routine and may decrease your need for other pain medications. Sumatriptan does not prevent future migraines or reduce how often you may get a headache.
  • Maxalt Oral
    Rizatriptan is used to treat migraines. It helps to relieve headaches, pain and other symptoms of migraines, including sensitivity to light/sound, nausea, and vomiting. Prompt treatment allows you to get back to your normal routine and may decrease your need for other pain medications. Rizatriptan does not prevent future migraines or reduce how often you may get a headache.
  • Maxalt-MLT Oral
    Rizatriptan is used to treat migraines. It helps to relieve headaches, pain and other symptoms of migraines, including sensitivity to light/sound, nausea, and vomiting. Prompt treatment allows you to get back to your normal routine and may decrease your need for other pain medications. Rizatriptan does not prevent future migraines or reduce how often you may get a headache.
  • Midrin
    This combination medication is used to relieve tension-type headaches and abort Migraine attacks. The brand name medication is discontinued, but generic acetaminophen. isometheptene and dichloralphenazone is available.
  • Migranal Nasl
    This medication is used to treat migraine headache attacks. It helps relieve headache pain and other symptoms such as sensitivity to light or sound. Prompt treatment allows you to get back to your normal routine sooner and may decrease your need for other pain medications. This medication is not used to prevent migraines from occurring.
  • Relpax Oral
    Eletriptan is used to treat migraines when they occur. It helps to relieve headaches, pain, and other symptoms of migraines, including nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light/sound. Prompt treatment allows you to get back to your normal routine and may decrease your need for other pain medications. Eletriptan does not prevent future migraines or reduce how often you may get a migraine.
  • Sumavel DosePro SubQ
    Sumatriptan is used to treat migraines and cluster headaches. It helps to relieve pain and other symptoms of migraines/headaches including sensitivity to light or sound, nausea, and vomiting. Prompt treatment allows you to get back to your normal routine and may decrease your need for other pain medications. It does not prevent future migraines/headaches or reduce how often you may get a headache.
  • Treximet Oral
    This product contains naproxen and sumatriptan. It is used to treat migraines when they occur. It helps to relieve headache and other symptoms of migraines, including sensitivity to light/sound, nausea, and vomiting. This product does not prevent future migraines or reduce how often you may get a headache.
  • Zomig Oral
    Zolmitriptan is used to treat migraines. It helps to relieve headaches, pain, and other symptoms of migraines, including nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light/sound. Prompt treatment allows you to get back to your normal routine and may decrease your need for other pain medications. Zolmitriptan does not prevent future migraines or reduce how often you may get a migraine.
  • Zomig ZMT Oral
    Zolmitriptan is used to treat migraines. It helps to relieve headaches, pain, and other symptoms of migraines, including nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light/sound. Prompt treatment allows you to get back to your normal routine and may decrease your need for other pain medications. Zolmitriptan does not prevent future migraines or reduce how often you may get a migraine.
  • Zomig Nasl
    Zolmitriptan is used to treat migraines. It helps to relieve headaches, pain, and other symptoms of migraines, including nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light/sound. Prompt treatment allows you to get back to your normal routine and may decrease your need for other pain medications. Zolmitriptan does not prevent future migraines or reduce how often you may get a migraine.

Rescue / Symptomatic Treatment

  • Ativan Oral
    This medication is used to treat anxiety. Lorazepam belongs to a class of drugs known as benzodiazepines which act on the brain and nerves (central nervous system) to produce a calming effect. This drug works by enhancing the effects of a certain natural chemical in the body (GABA).
  • Cambia Oral
    Diclofenac is used to relieve pain from various conditions. This form of diclofenac is used to treat migraine headaches. Diclofenac is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). It works by blocking your body's production of certain natural substances that cause inflammation. This effect helps to decrease swelling, pain, or fever.
  • Fioricet Oral
    This combination medication is used to treat tension headaches. Acetaminophen helps to decrease the pain from the headache. Caffeine helps increase the effects of acetaminophen. Butalbital is a sedative that helps to decrease anxiety and cause sleepiness and relaxation.
  • Fiorinal Oral
    This combination medication is used to treat tension headaches. Aspirin helps to decrease the pain from the headache. Caffeine helps increase the effects of aspirin. Butalbital is a sedative that helps to decrease anxiety and cause sleepiness and relaxation.
  • Reglan Oral
    This medication is used to treat certain conditions of the stomach and intestines. Metoclopramide is used as a short-term treatment (4 to 12 weeks) for persistent heartburn when the usual medicines do not work well enough. It is used mostly for heartburn that occurs after a meal or during the daytime. Treating persistent heartburn can decrease the damage done by stomach acid to the swallowing tube (esophagus) and help healing.
  • Ultracet Oral
    This product is used to treat moderate to moderately severe pain. It contains 2 medications: tramadol and acetaminophen. Tramadol is similar to narcotic analgesics. It works in the brain to change how your body feels and responds to pain. Acetaminophen is used to relieve pain, and it can also reduce a fever.
  • Ultram Oral
    This medication is used to relieve moderate pain. It is similar to narcotic pain medications. It works on certain nerves in the brain that control how you experience pain.
  • Zofran Oral
    This medication is used alone or with other medications to prevent nausea and vomiting caused by cancer drug treatment (chemotherapy) and radiation therapy. It is also used to prevent and treat nausea and vomiting after surgery. It works by blocking one of the body's natural substances (serotonin) that causes vomiting.

Other Meds Migraineurs Ask About

  • Ambien Oral
    Zolpidem is used to treat sleep problems (insomnia) in adults. If you have trouble falling asleep, it helps you fall asleep faster, so you can get a better night's rest. Zolpidem belongs to a class of drugs called sedative-hypnotics. It acts on your brain to produce a calming effect.
  • Lunesta Oral
    This medication is used to treat sleep problems (insomnia). It may help you fall asleep faster, sleep better during the night, and stay asleep longer. Eszopiclone belongs to a class of drugs known as hypnotics.
  • Rozerem Oral
    This medication is used to treat sleeplessness (insomnia). It helps you fall asleep faster so you can get a full night's rest. Sleep is important for your ability to function, think clearly, and remain alert. Lack of sleep can cause problems such as depression, heart disease and accidents. Getting enough sleep allows your mind and body to repair itself and increases your energy throughout the day.
  • Medrol Oral
    This medication is used to treat various conditions such as allergic disorders; arthritis; blood diseases; breathing problems; certain cancers; eye diseases; intestinal disorders; collagen and skin diseases. It decreases your body's immune response to these diseases and reduces symptoms such as swelling and redness. Methylprednisolone is a corticosteroid hormone (glucocorticoid).

Migraine & Headache Prevention

  • Accupril Oral
    This drug belongs to a group of medications called ACE inhibitors. It is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). It works by relaxing blood vessels, causing them to widen. Lowering high blood pressure helps prevent strokes, heart attacks and kidney problems.
  • Adderall Oral
    This combination medication is used as part of a total treatment program to control attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It may help to increase the ability to pay attention, stay focused, and control behavior problems.
  • Avapro Oral
    Irbesartan is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) and to help protect the kidneys from damage due to diabetes. Lowering high blood pressure helps prevent strokes, heart attacks, and kidney problems. Irbesartan belongs to a class of drugs called angiotensin receptor blockers. It works by relaxing blood vessels so that blood can flow more easily.
  • Celebrex Oral
    This medication is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), specifically a COX-2 inhibitor, which relieves pain and swelling (inflammation). It is used to treat arthritis, acute pain, and menstrual pain and discomfort. The pain and swelling relief provided by this medication helps you perform more of your normal daily activities. Celecoxib is also used to decrease growths found in the intestines (colon polyps) of persons with a family history of this condition.
  • Celexa Oral
    Citalopram is an antidepressant (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor-SSRI) used to treat depression. It works by restoring the balance of certain natural substances (neurotransmitters such as serotonin) in the brain. Citalopram may improve your feelings of well-being and energy level.
  • Concerta Oral
    Methylphenidate is used to treat attention disorders (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD) as part of a total treatment plan including psychological, educational and social measures. When used to treat ADHD, patients may find they have increased attention, decreased impulsiveness, and decreased hyperactivity (see also Notes section). This medication is a mild stimulant that works by affecting the levels of chemicals (neurotransmitters) in the nervous system.
  • Cozaar Oral
    Losartan is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) and to help protect the kidneys from damage due to diabetes. It is also used to lower the risk of strokes in patients with high blood pressure and an enlarged heart. Lowering high blood pressure helps prevent strokes, heart attacks, and kidney problems. Losartan belongs to a class of drugs called angiotensin receptor blockers. It works by relaxing blood vessels so that blood can flow more easily.
  • Cymbalta Oral
    Duloxetine is used to treat major depression and anxiety. In addition, duloxetine is used to relieve nerve pain (peripheral neuropathy) in people with diabetes. It is also used to treat pain caused by a condition called fibromyalgia that affects the muscles, tendons, ligaments, and supporting tissues.
  • Depakote Oral
    This medication is used to treat seizure disorders, certain psychiatric conditions (manic phase of bipolar disorder), and to prevent migraine headaches. It works by restoring the balance of certain natural substances (neurotransmitters) in the brain.
  • Diamox Sequels Oral
    Acetazolamide is used to prevent and reduce the symptoms of altitude sickness. This medication can decrease headache, tiredness, nausea, dizziness, and shortness of breath that can occur when you climb quickly to high altitudes (generally above 10,000 feet/3,048 meters). It is particularly useful in situations when you cannot make a slow ascent. The best ways to prevent altitude sickness are climbing slowly, stopping for 24 hours during the climb to allow the body to adjust to the new height, and taking it easy the first 1 to 2 days.
  • Effexor XR Oral
    Venlafaxine is an antidepressant (serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor type-SNRI) used in the treatment of depression, anxiety, and panic attacks. It works by restoring the balance of natural substances (neurotransmitters such as serotonin and norepinephrine) in the brain. Venlafaxine may improve your mood, feelings of well-being, and energy level and decrease nervousness and the number of panic attacks you may have.
  • Lexapro Oral
    Escitalopram is an antidepressant (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor-SSRI) used to treat depression and anxiety. It works by restoring the balance of certain natural substances (neurotransmitters such as serotonin) in the brain. Escitalopram may improve your feelings of well-being and energy level and decrease nervousness.
  • Lotensin Oral
    This drug belongs to a group of medications called ACE inhibitors. It is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). It works by relaxing blood vessels, causing them to widen. Lowering high blood pressure helps prevent strokes, heart attacks and kidney problems.
  • Lyrica Oral
    This medication is used to treat pain caused by nerve damage due to diabetes and shingles (herpes zoster) infection. It is also used to treat pain in people with fibromyalgia.
  • Nardil Oral
    Phenelzine is an antidepressant (monoamine oxidase inhibitor). This medication treats depression by restoring the balance of certain natural substances (neurotransmitters) in the brain. Phenelzine can improve your mood and feelings of well-being. Usually, this medication is used in persons who have not responded to treatment with other drugs.
  • Namenda Oral
    Memantine is used to treat moderate to severe confusion (dementia) related to Alzheimer's disease. It does not cure Alzheimer's disease, but it may improve memory, awareness, and the ability to perform daily functions. This medication works by blocking the action of a certain natural substance in the brain (glutamate) that is believed to be linked to symptoms of Alzheimer's disease.
  • Pristiq Oral
    Desvenlafaxine is an antidepressant (serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor type-SNRI) used in the treatment of depression. It works by restoring the balance of natural substances (neurotransmitters such as serotonin and norepinephrine) in the brain. Desvenlafaxine may improve your mood, feelings of well-being, and energy level.
  • Remeron Oral
    Mirtazapine is used to treat depression. It improves mood and feelings of well-being. Mirtazapine is an antidepressant that works by restoring the balance of natural chemicals (neurotransmitters) in the brain.
  • Savella Oral
    Milnacipran is used to treat pain caused by a condition called fibromyalgia that affects the muscles, tendons, ligaments, and supporting tissues.
  • Seroquel Oral
    This medication is used with or without other medications to treat certain mental/mood conditions (such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia). Quetiapine is known as an anti-psychotic drug (atypical type). It works by helping to restore the balance of certain natural chemicals (neurotransmitters) in the brain.
  • Singulair Oral
    Montelukast is used as a long-term (maintenance) treatment to prevent or treat asthma. It may also be used in people older than 14 years to prevent asthma brought on by exercise (bronchospasm).
  • Strattera Oral
    Atomoxetine is used to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It works by helping to restore the balance of certain natural chemicals in the brain (neurotransmitters). It may help to increase the ability to pay attention, concentrate, stay focused, and stop fidgeting.
  • Tegretol Oral
    Carbamazepine is used to prevent and control seizures. This medication is known as an anticonvulsant or anti-epileptic drug. It is also used to relieve one type of nerve pain (trigeminal neuralgia). This medication works by reducing excessive nerve signals in the brain and restoring the normal balance of nerve activity.
  • Topamax (topiramate)
    Topiramate is used to prevent migraine headaches and reduce how often you may get them. Topiramate will not work to treat a migraine headache once it occurs.
  • Trileptal Oral
    This medication is used to treat seizure disorders (epilepsy). It may be used with other seizure medications as determined by your doctor.
  • Vimpat Oral
    Lacosamide is used to prevent and control seizures. It is an anticonvulsant or antiepileptic drug. It works by reducing the spread of seizure activity in the brain.
  • Wellbutrin Oral
    Bupropion is used to treat depression. It can improve your mood and feelings of well-being. It may work by helping to restore the balance of certain natural chemicals (neurotransmitters) in your brain.
  • Zanaflex Oral
    This medication is used to treat muscle tightness and cramping (spasm) caused by conditions such as multiple sclerosis or spinal injury. Decreasing spasms can reduce pain and improve your ability to move around. Tizanidine is a short-acting muscle relaxant that works by blocking certain nerve signals from the spine to the brain (alpha adrenergic agonist).
  • Zoloft Oral
    Sertraline is used to treat depression, panic attacks, obsessive compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, social anxiety disorder (social phobia), and a severe form of premenstrual syndrome (premenstrual dysphoric disorder).
  • Zonegran Oral
    Zonisamide is used with other medications to prevent and control seizures (epilepsy).

Featured Video

Treating Migraines with Botox?

Watch this video to learn the details about new research that shows Botox could have significant impacts on treatment for migraines.
Find out more >>

Featured Quiz

How well do you know your Migraine medication?

Medications Quiz
Preventive, abortive, and rescue medications are all part of an effective treatment regimen. How well do you know your medications? Let’s find out with this short quiz!
Find out more >>