The effectiveness of migraine medication can vary from person to person, as migraines can be complex and may respond differently to different treatments.
Some commonly prescribed migraine medications include:
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- Triptans: Triptans are a class of medications specifically designed to treat migraines. They work by narrowing blood vessels and blocking pain pathways in the brain. Examples include sumatriptan, rizatriptan, and eletriptan.
- Ergotamines: Ergotamine medications are another class of drugs used to treat migraines. They work by constricting blood vessels in the brain. Examples include ergotamine and dihydroergotamine.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin can be effective for treating mild to moderate migraines.
- Preventive medications: For individuals with frequent or severe migraines, preventive medications may be prescribed to reduce the frequency and severity of attacks. These can include medications originally developed for other purposes, such as certain antidepressants, anticonvulsants, or blood pressure medications.
- Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) inhibitors: CGRP inhibitors are a relatively new class of medications specifically developed for migraine prevention. They work by blocking the activity of CGRP, a molecule involved in the migraine process. Examples include erenumab, fremanezumab, and galcanezumab.
The best migraine medication for you depends on various factors, including the frequency and severity of your migraines, your overall health, and any other medical conditions you may have. It’s essential to work closely with your healthcare provider to find the most effective treatment plan for your individual needs. They can help you navigate the options and make informed decisions about managing your migraines.
Is Gabapentin an Effective Medication for Migraine ?
Gabapentin is a medication primarily used to treat seizures and certain types of nerve pain. While it is not specifically approved by the FDA for the treatment of migraines, it is sometimes prescribed off-label for this purpose.
Some studies and clinical trials have shown that gabapentin may provide benefit for some individuals with migraines, particularly those who experience migraine with accompanying neuropathic pain or other types of chronic pain conditions. It’s thought that gabapentin may help reduce the frequency and severity of migraines by stabilizing electrical activity in the brain and modulating pain signals.
However, the evidence supporting the use of gabapentin for migraines is limited compared to other migraine-specific medications such as triptans or preventive medications like beta-blockers, anticonvulsants, or CGRP inhibitors. Additionally, gabapentin may cause side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness, fatigue, and weight gain, which could impact its tolerability and effectiveness for some individuals.
If you’re considering gabapentin for migraine treatment, it’s essential to discuss the potential benefits and risks with your healthcare provider. They can help you weigh the options and determine whether gabapentin is an appropriate choice for managing your migraines based on your specific medical history and migraine symptoms.
Best answer:
Answer by IndyMom
I have had migraines for 30 years. None are the best. The question is in finding the best one for you. You are the only one who can determine that. Ask the Doc. to prescribe the migraine abortive medications one at a time until you find the one that works best for you.
I personally use Imitrex. I have also tried Maxalt, Zomig and all of the others that I don’t remember the names of. Imitrex has been the best for me.
The key with any of these is to take them immediately, as soon as you realize that the pain is coming or expect that it is heading to migraine level. If you wait until you have a full blown migraine, no medication will work.
Keep a daily headache diary when you try the new meds. At the end of a few days, or weeks depending on how often you get them, you will have the details for the Doctor. Help them to help you.
Best of luck.
Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!
I have suffered with migraines since I was 14, I am now 39. Last year I was prescribed Lyrica for postherpetic neuralgia after a nasty bout of shingles. Since then I have had hardly any migraines at all and definately nowhere near as severe. When i asked my pain consultant about this he said others had said the same thing but it wasn’t usually prescribed for migraine. It is actually an anti epilepsy drug and my understanding is that it works by changing the nerve pattern.
It is a med that you gradually build up the dosage, the side effects are pretty extreme to start off with but they have settled now. The only way I can describe the side effects is that feeling when you have drunk wayyyyyyyyy to much, the room is spinning, the floor seems to move when you walk, you try to lay down but the bed moves and feel very nauseous! For me the benefits now made the side effects worth while to begin with!
I had tried pretty much every migraine drug available before all to no avail and my migraines would put me in bed for 2 to 3 days at a time.
I tried daily meds – the anit seizures and the anti-anxiety ones, but they didn’t really help and the side effects made me crazy – dry mouth, dizziness, memory loss, tiredness… yuck.
These were Topomax, Neurontin, Propranolol, wellbutrin,
Imitrex did nothing. Axert usually works, and Maxalt is slightly less effective for me than Axert.
I get frequent, severe migraines. I have tried numerous different ones and while they are similar I find that Imitrex works the best, I use the higher dose (although I can’t remember what that is at the moment). I take 1 Imitrex and 1 over the counter Excedrin Migraine at the same time and that really kicks it in the butt. I asked my Dr. if it was okay to take them together and she said yes.
I’ve had Migraines since childhood and I get them less as I get older. I’m sure the answer is different for everyone, but for me it’s Advil Migraine. (I know they say it’s the same thing as regular Advil but this is just what works for me.) I’ve tried other meds over the years. Many people say Imitrex works good, although it made my heart race and it didn’t work for me. I also took an ergot based medication years ago and it made me ill, although the headache went away. Good luck!