Click on each treatment type to learn more
Migraine-Specific Acute Medications
Non-Specific Medications
Neuromodulation devices
Behavioral therapies
Supplements and natural therapies
Migraine-specific acute medications are used to treat a migraine attack as soon as it starts. They tend to work best when taken as early as possible after the start of symptoms.
Migraine-specific medications for acute attacks: • Triptans • Gepants • Ergotamines • Ditans
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Non-specific medications are widely used to treat mild to moderate pain and ease nausea symptoms in people with migraine. You can find many of these over-the-counter, but others will need a healthcare provider’s prescription.
Non-specific medications: • Acetaminophen • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories • Anti-nausea medications • Opioids (not recommended for migraine)
Several FDA-approved neuromodulation devices are designed to treat acute migraine attacks. These devices can be worn on the head, neck or arm.
Devices used to treat acute attacks: • Cefaly (External Trigeminal Nerve Stimulator) • Nerivio (Remote Electrical Neuromodulation) • gammaCore (Vagus Nerve Stimulator) • sTMS mini (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulator)
Behavioral Therapies can help manage pain and anxiety. They are useful as a daily practice and in the early stages of a migraine attack. These therapies can be safely combined with migraine-specific and non-specific medications.
Behavioral approaches for migraine relief: • Mindfulness • Biofeedback • Relaxation techniques and deep breathing
Many people with migraine use supplements and natural therapies to treat the symptoms of migraine like pain, nausea, and muscle soreness. It is important to tell your healthcare provider about all of the treatments you are using.
Supplements and natural remedies for acute treatment: • Peppermint oil and spearmint oil • Caffeine - with limitations • Ginger - for nausea
