A migraine is a neurological condition that features a recurring headache. Pain from a migraine can be severe and can last several hours or several days. Migraines can be extremely disabling, causing nausea and sensitivity to light, smell and sound. Medications are the primary form of treatment for migraines. Treatment for migraines is aimed at reducing their occurrence, stopping a migraine attack and treating the associated symptoms.
Preventive Medications
If you have frequent migraines, your doctor might prescribe a preventive medication, to help reduce the frequency. These medications typically have to be taken daily or regularly. Your doctor may prescribe one of the following types of medication to help prevent the onset of migraines: antidepressants, certain blood pressure medications, seizure medication, a selective seratonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) or a selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI).
Responsive Medications
Other medications are aimed at stopping the migraine attack once it occurs or reducing the pain. A mild migraine can be treated with over-the-counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen.
Severe migraines are treated with prescription medications. Triptans are the most commonly prescribed type of medication to stop migraine attacks, such as almotriptan (Axert), frovratriptan (Frova), rizatriptan (Maxalt), sumatriptan (Imitrex) and zolmitriptan (Zomig).
In some cases, severe migraines are treated with narcotics, such as meperidine or codeine.
Other Medications
For some patients, medications are effective in treating headache pain, but these people still suffer from the associated symptoms. Your doctor may prescribe a nausea medication, such as prochlorperazine, or a sedative, such as butalbital.
