Treating migraine headaches can require certain drugs to relieve pain or to prevent the pain from occurring. There are medications specifically for migraines and others developed to treat other ailments that also may work, either separately or in combination. Over-the-counter (OTC) drugs fight moderate or mild migraine pain, and prescription medications help with more severe pain.
Pain
While they may relieve the intense pain associated with migraine headaches, migraine medications also can cause various types of pain elsewhere in the body. The most common is pain in the chest, sometimes severe. Medications also may cause pain in the abdomen, back or side or pain during urination. Among the medications that can cause these side effects are drugs specifically designed to treat migraines such as zolmitriptan (Zomig or Zomig-ZMT), eletriptan (Relpax), rizatriptan (Maxalt, Maxalt-MLT), frovatriptan (Frova), naratriptan (Amerge), almotriptan (Axert) and a combination of sumatriptan and naproxen sodium marketed as Treximet. Medications designed to prevent migraines that can cause other pain include nortriptyline (Pamelor) and amitriptyline (Vanatrip, Elavil), both antidepressants; the beta blocker metoprolol (Toprol XL, Lopressor); and hypertension drug lisinopril (Zestril, Prinivil).
Heart Irregularities
Some migraine medications--including the OTC Excedrin, which is a combination of acetaminophen, aspirin and caffeine--may cause side effects directly related to heart function. This can mean a rapid or irregular heart rate. Prescription medications that can cause these problems include Treximet, rizatriptan, almotriptan, zolmitriptan and naratriptan. Metoprolol also may have this effect.
Fever
A rare side effect of some migraine medications is a fever. This side effect may require medical attention, so contact your physician if you experience it. Medications that can cause fever include alomtriptan, zolmitriptan, naratriptan, amitriptyline, lisinopril and metoprolol. OTC medications such as ibuprofen (Advil) and Excedrin also may produce fevers.
Confusion
Although rare, some prescription and OTC migraine drugs can cause mental confusion in some patients. The medications that can cause confusion include amitriptyline, naratriptan, rizatriptan, metoprolol, Excedrin, ibuprofen and naproxen sodium (Aleve, Aflaxen, Naprosyn, Anaprox, Naprelan).
Stomach Upset
Migraines can cause such symptoms as nausea and vomiting. On top of that, some medications also can cause stomach upset, including indigestion or stomach pain, as well as queasiness. These drugs include OTC medications such as naproxen sodium, ibuprofen and the combination medicines containing acetaminophen, aspirin and sometimes caffeine such as Excedrin, Durabac, Pain-Off, Be-Flex Plus, By-Ache and Combiflex. Prescription medications that can cause these side effects include divalproex (Depakote), verapamil (Isoptin, Calan), lisinopril, naratriptan, eletriptan, zolmitriptan, frovatriptan, nortriptyline and others.
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