Breaking down migraine treatments

While migraine does not yet have a cure, treatments can help relieve migraine symptoms, stop attacks, prevent them, or do both.

The types of migraine treatments

There are two main approaches to migraine care: stop migraines after they start (acute) or prevent them before they start (preventive). Many people with migraine use both acute and preventive treatments.

treatment

Acute

There are many kinds of treatments that aim to stop a migraine attack or treat its symptoms. They can come in the form of oral medications, nasal sprays, injections, or devices.

Pain relievers or analgesics

Over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, as well as prescription options. Can often be taken with other treatments.

Triptans

Usually the first treatment recommended in patients with moderate to severe migraine. A class of drugs that works by balancing chemicals in the brain.

CGRP receptor antagonists

A class of drugs — also known as gepants — that can stop migraine pain signals thought to be linked to the activity of a protein called calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). Nurtec ODT is a CGRP receptor antagonist medication.

Ditans

A class of drugs that acts similar to triptans, which can be useful for patients who don’t respond well to triptans, and doesn't cause the tightening of blood vessels in the brain.

Ergot derivatives

A class of drugs that can balance brain chemicals similarly to triptans and are often reserved for patients who don’t respond to triptans or analgesics.

Nerve stimulation devices

Devices that use electrical currents or magnets to "turn down" nerve activity in the brain and stop migraine attacks.

Style

accent

acute

Preventive

As the name suggests, preventive treatments aim to prevent migraine attacks from ever starting. They too come in many forms, including oral medications, injections, and devices.

^ORAL

Blood pressure medications

Over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, as well as prescription options. Can often be taken with other treatments.

^ORAL

Depression medications

A class of drugs that can balance chemicals in the brain to reduce the inflammation and tightening of blood vessels.

^ORAL

CGRP receptor antagonists

A class of drugs — also known as gepants — that can prevent migraine attacks by stopping pain signals thought to be linked to the activity of a protein called CGRP.

^ORAL

Ergot derivatives

A class of drugs that can balance brain chemicals similarly to triptans and shouldn't be used by those with high blood pressure or heart disease.

^INJECTABLE

Neuromuscular blockers

Devices that use electrical currents or magnets to "turn down" nerve activity in the brain and stop migraine attacks.

^DEVICES

Nerve stimulation devices

Devices that use electrical currents or magnets to "turn down" nerve activity in the brain and can prevent future attacks.

Style

accent

preventive

Acute & preventive

Nurtec ODT can treat and prevent migraine. As a CGRP receptor antagonist, it is thought to block pain signals linked to the activity of a protein called CGRP.

treat and prevent

acute-and-preventive