Table of contents:
- A choice of generic drugs in pharmacies that are effective for relieving migraines
- Aspirin
- Ibuprofen
- Paracetamol
- Rules for using generic drugs to treat migraines
- Prescription migraine relief medication recommendations
- Triptan
- Naproxen
- Antiemetic or anti-nausea
- Medicines to prevent migraines
- Blood pressure-lowering drugs
- Antidepressants
- Anti-seizure drugs
Migraines that come suddenly certainly make it difficult for you to move comfortably. The pain is often described as being very intense, which can last for hours to days. Now, when a migraine recurs, you may need to take medication so that these annoying headaches quickly subside. However, what drugs can be used to treat migraine symptoms? Here's the information.
A choice of generic drugs in pharmacies that are effective for relieving migraines
Migraine is a type of headache that can cause recurring or recurring pain, which is generally felt on one side, either left or right. When this headache attack comes, pain medication is usually needed to treat the symptoms.
Generic over-the-counter pain relievers can be an option if you have a mild headache or have just struck. So, what are the options for these generic drugs?
Here are some recommendations for generic drugs at the pharmacy to treat headaches, both left and right, due to the migraine you are experiencing:
Aspirin is an analgesic drug that works to stop the production of prostaglandins in the body. Prostaglandins are hormones that can trigger inflammation and pain, which is one of the causes of migraines.
Aspirin can be used to relieve mild to moderate migraines. Some studies recommend that high doses of aspirin, namely 900-1,300 mg, can be given when the first symptoms occur or an acute migraine attack. While low-dose aspirin, namely 81-325 mg per day, is considered an effective treatment option for recurrent migraine headaches.
Although it can be purchased over the counter without a doctor's prescription, the use of aspirin to treat migraines also needs to be careful. If consumed in excess and in the long term, there is a risk of aspirin side effects, such as stomach irritation or bleeding in the stomach.
Ibuprofen is an NSAID pain reliever drug. This class of drugs works by blocking the cyclooxygenase enzyme from producing prostaglandins which play a role in causing migraines.
Ibuprofen as a generic migraine drug is available in tablet or suspension (liquid) form. The dose of ibuprofen as a medication for mild to moderate headaches is 200-400 mg every 4-6 hours as needed. Mentioned on the Cochrane website, the use of a single dose of 400 mg of ibuprofen is as effective as taking 1000 mg of aspirin in treating migraine headaches.
However, ibuprofen should not be used to treat migraines in pregnant women. The risks can have an impact on the health of the baby in the womb. Consult a gynecologist to get recommendations for headaches for pregnant women that are right for your condition.
Paracetamol or acetaminophen is an analgesic class of drugs that work to change the way the body responds to pain. Usually, paracetamol is used to relieve headaches due to migraines that are classified as mild to moderate. However, this type of drug is also sometimes used to treat severe migraines.
The recommended single dose of paracetamol for migraine headaches in adults is 1,000 mg. A single dose is believed to reduce migraine headaches from moderate to severe in about 2 hours.
Paracetamol is also considered to be more effective at relieving migraines than ibuprofen. Moreover, if this drug is made into a combination with aspirin and caffeine (Excedrin Migraine). However, this combination of drugs is generally only effective for treating mild migraine pain.
Rules for using generic drugs to treat migraines
The three generic drug options above you can buy freely without including a doctor's prescription. However, it is also possible that doctors will prescribe it to treat heavier migraines.
Regardless of whether it is prescribed or not, the use of pain relievers ideally still needs supervision or as directed by a doctor. At the very least, the consumption of over-the-counter drugs must follow the rules stated on the packaging label.
The reason is, the use of pain relievers as a way to treat migraine headaches should not be used too often. Long-term use is risky rebound headacheor recurrent headaches from overuse of the drug.
Prescription migraine relief medication recommendations
In cases of severe migraine attacks, accompanied by aura and other symptoms, and so severe that they render you helpless, over-the-counter generics may not work.
You need other, stronger drugs to stop the symptoms. However, these medicines cannot be bought carelessly. You need to redeem it at the pharmacy by including a prescription from the doctor. These drugs, namely:
Triptans are a group of medicinal classes selective serotonin receptor agonists (SSRA). This class of drugs works by stimulating serotonin, a chemical in the brain that stops pain by reducing inflammation and constricting blood vessels.
Summarizing the National Headache Foundation, triptans are used to treat acute migraines. Acute medications are designed to stop migraine attacks or cluster headaches once an attack has started.
As an acute migraine drug, triptans help relieve various symptoms that appear when an attack occurs, such as headaches, nausea, and those associated with aura, namely sensitivity to light and sound. However, there are some side effects that can arise from taking this drug, such as nausea, dizziness, drowsiness, and muscle weakness.
In addition, triptans can interact with other drugs, such as ergotamine and monoamine oxidase inhibitor(MAOIs). This drug should not be used in migraine patients who have certain medical conditions, such as liver disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, angina, stroke, and diabetes. Tell your doctor if you are taking medication or have any medical conditions as mentioned above.
Triptan category drugs are available in pill form, patch, even injections. Several drugs that are included in the triptan group, namely sumatriptan, rizatriptan, almotriptan, naratriptan, zolmitriptan, and frovatriptan.
Naproxen belongs to the NSAID class, such as ibuprofen, which works by blocking the cyclooxygenase enzyme in producing prostaglandins. This medication is usually prescribed by doctors to relieve moderate to severe headaches.
As a migraine medicine, doctors usually prescribe 250 mg of naproxen every 6-8 hours as needed. However, this medicine should not be used more than 1,000 mg per day to avoid the serious side effects it may cause, such as inflammation in the intestines, kidney damage, and so on.
Meanwhile, when compared to other NSAID drugs, naproxen is classified as less effective for relieving migraine headaches. Therefore, doctors will usually give this drug only as a companion, not as the main drug.
Apart from naproxen, doctors may prescribe other prescription NSAIDs as a way to treat migraine headaches, such as diclofenac or ketorolac, if necessary.
In addition to headaches, nausea and vomiting are also often felt by migraine sufferers when an attack occurs, especially for migraine sufferers with aura. Therefore, doctors also often prescribe anti-nausea drugs or so-called antiemetics to relieve these symptoms.
These antiemetic drugs can be used before or together with pain relievers and triptans. Like pain relievers, these anti-nausea medications work better if they are taken as soon as migraine symptoms start.
Antiemetic drugs are usually in the form of tablets or suppositories (solid drugs that are inserted through the anus). Some examples of antiemetic drugs that doctors usually prescribe for migraine sufferers are metocloropramide, chlorpromazine, or prochlorperazine.
Medicines to prevent migraines
There is a saying that it is better to prevent than to cure. Well, this also applies to migraines. Apart from avoiding the things that trigger it, preventing migraine relapse can also be done by taking drugs.
These medications are usually prescribed by a doctor if you have had frequent migraines before, the attacks don't stop immediately after taking the medication, or the pain is not being treated by generic pain relievers.
These drugs are used to reduce the frequency of attacks and the severity of migraines. Here are some medicines that you can use as a form of prevention.
Drugs, beta blockerssuch as propranolol and metoprolol, as well as drugs calcium channel blockers, like verapamil, can be used to prevent migraines that are usually accompanied by aura.
Tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline, can be used to prevent migraines or headaches. However, this class of drugs can only be prescribed by a doctor because of the side effects they may cause, such as drowsiness and weight gain.
Anti-seizure drugs, such as valproate and topiramate, can be used to reduce the frequency of migraine attacks. However, you should be careful with certain side effects that can arise from using this drug, such as dizziness, changes in body weight (both up and down), nausea, and so on.
