Antimigraine drug


Antimigraine drugs are medications intended to reduce the effects or intensity of migraine headache. They include drugs for the treatment of acute migraine symptoms as well as drugs for the prevention of migraine attacks.

Examples

Treatment of acute symptoms

Migraine can often be treated with unspecific analgesics such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or paracetamol, with or without metoclopramide. Examples of specific antimigraine drugs include triptans such as zolmitriptan and ergot alkaloids such as methysergide.

Prevention

First-line drugs for the prevention of migraine attacks include the beta blockers propranolol, metoprolol and bisoprolol, the antiepileptics valproic acid and topiramate, as well as flunarizine. Less well evidenced is the use of amitriptyline, venlafaxine, Petasites albus extract, riboflavin, magnesium, coenzyme Q10, gabapentin, acetylsalicylic acid, and naproxen.