Pain relievers, including aspirin, acetaminophen, and NSAIDs such as ibuprofen or naproxen, are usually considered first-line treatments for headache. If you are experiencing headaches more than twice a week, talk to your doctor as there may be more effective treatments to use. Migraine-specific treatments, such as triptans, dihydroergotamine, lasmiditan, gepants, and methocarbamol, are also available. Preventive migraine treatments help reduce the frequency of future attacks.
Treatment options for headaches include:
Over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB), naproxen (Aleve), celecoxib (Celebrex, Elyxyb), acetaminophen (Tylenol), and aspirin may be given to temporarily relieve pain associated with headache
Diclofenac (Cambia, Cataflam, Zipsor, Zorvolex) is a prescription NSAID that may be prescribed by a doctor to relieve pain associated with tension headaches and migraines
Meclofenamate (Meclomen) and orphenadrine (Norflex) may also help relieve the pain associated with tension headaches, with potential side effects such as drowsiness.
Migraine treatments
Medications for migraine relief are most effective when taken at the first sign of symptoms. Options include:
Pain relievers such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB), or naproxen (Aleve). Prolonged use may lead to medication-overuse headaches and other side effects
Combination migraine relief medications that include combinations of ingredients, for example, caffeine, aspirin, and acetaminophen (Excedrin Migraine). These may help with mild pain
Triptans are prescription drugs; examples include almotriptan (Axert), eletriptan (Relpax), frovatriptan (Frova), naratriptan (Amerge), sumatriptan (Imitrex, Onzetra, Tosymra) and rizatriptan (Maxalt) which block pain pathways that contribute to migraine headaches
Dihydroergotamine (Migranal, Trudhesa) which is available as a nasal spray or injection and effective for longer-lasting migraines
Lasmiditan (Reyvow) which is an oral tablet that can be used to treat migraines with or without aura
Gepants, such as ubrogepant (Ubrelvy) or rimegepant (Nurtec ODT) which block the effect of CGRP (calcitonin gene-related peptide), a small protein involved in pain transmission that is highly prevalent in the nerves that supply the head and the neck. Intranasal zavegepant (Zavzpret), is a gepant available as a nasal spray that provides migraine relief within 15 minutes to 2 hours.
Methocarbamol (Robaxin) which may be used to relax muscles if neck pain is present in addition to the migraine
Opioid medications which are not recommended first-line because of their risk for addiction, but may be used when other treatments are ineffective.
Anti-nausea drugs (such as chlorpromazine, metoclopramide, or prochlorperazine) may also be given with pain medications for migraines with aura accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
Medications for Migraine Prevention
Preventive treatments for migraine aim to reduce the frequency, severity, and duration of migraines. Options include:
Calcium channel blockers such as verapamil (Verelan, Calan) for migraines with aura.
Antidepressants:
Tricyclic antidepressant amitriptyline can prevent migraines, while alternative antidepressants may be prescribed to mitigate side effects like sleepiness.
Anti-seizure drugs:
Valproate and topiramate (Topamax, Qudexy) may help with less frequent migraines but may cause side effects like dizziness, weight changes, and nausea. Not recommended for pregnant women.
Botox injections:
OnabotulinumtoxinA (Botox) injections every 12 weeks can prevent migraines in some adults.
Erenumab-aooe (Aimovig), fremanezumab-vfrm (Ajovy), galcanezumab-gnlm (Emgality), and eptinezumab-jjmr (Vyepti) are newer monthly or quarterly injection treatments approved by the FDA.
The following products are considered to be alternative treatments or natural remedies for Headache. Their efficacy
may not have been scientifically tested to the same degree as the drugs listed in the table above. However, there may be historical,
cultural or anecdotal evidence linking their use to the treatment of Headache.
For ratings, users were asked how effective they found the medicine while considering positive/adverse effects and ease of use (1 = not effective, 10 = most effective).
Activity
Activity is based on recent site visitor activity relative to other medications in the list.
Rx
Prescription only.
OTC
Over-the-counter.
Rx/OTC
Prescription or Over-the-counter.
Off-label
This medication may not be approved by the FDA for the treatment of this condition.
EUA
An Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) allows the FDA to authorize unapproved medical products or unapproved uses of approved medical products to be used in a declared public health emergency when there are no adequate, approved, and available alternatives.
Expanded Access
Expanded Access is a potential pathway for a patient with a serious or immediately life-threatening disease or condition to gain access to an investigational medical product (drug, biologic, or medical device) for treatment outside of clinical trials when no comparable or satisfactory alternative therapy options are available.
Pregnancy Category
A
Adequate and well-controlled studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus in the first trimester of pregnancy (and there is no evidence of risk in later trimesters).
B
Animal reproduction studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women.
C
Animal reproduction studies have shown an adverse effect on the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use in pregnant women despite potential risks.
D
There is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience or studies in humans, but potential benefits may warrant use in pregnant women despite potential risks.
X
Studies in animals or humans have demonstrated fetal abnormalities and/or there is positive evidence of human fetal risk based on adverse reaction data from investigational or marketing experience, and the risks involved in use in pregnant women clearly outweigh potential benefits.
N
FDA has not classified the drug.
Controlled Substances Act (CSA) Schedule
M
The drug has multiple schedules. The schedule may depend on the exact dosage form or strength of the medication.
U
CSA Schedule is unknown.
N
Is not subject to the Controlled Substances Act.
1
Has a high potential for abuse. Has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. There is a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision.
2
Has a high potential for abuse. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States or a currently accepted medical use with severe restrictions. Abuse may lead to severe psychological or physical dependence.
3
Has a potential for abuse less than those in schedules 1 and 2. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence.
4
Has a low potential for abuse relative to those in schedule 3. It has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to those in schedule 3.
5
Has a low potential for abuse relative to those in schedule 4. Has a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States. Abuse may lead to limited physical dependence or psychological dependence relative to those in schedule 4.
Alcohol
X
Interacts with Alcohol.
Further information
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