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Prevention medication for migraine: Pros and cons
By Mayo Clinic staffPreventive treatment can help keep migraines at bay — reducing the frequency, severity and duration of migraine attacks. The goal of preventive therapy is to reduce the number of days that migraines occur per month by 50 percent or more. A plan for acute treatment of attacks is necessary even if a preventive medication is used.
Various preventive strategies can be used on a short-term or long-term basis. For example, some women who have migraines around menstruation are helped by taking preventive medicine for just a few days each month. However, most preventive therapy for migraines must be taken every day.
Preventive therapy also requires patience. It can take up to three months for preventive therapy to be effective — and there are no guarantees. If you continue to have migraines, you'll need to be cautious with pain medication, for too much can interfere with the effectiveness of preventive drugs.
| Preventive medication | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Beta blockers | Can be taken by people with high blood pressure | May take several weeks or more to be effective; may reduce capacity to exercise |
| NSAIDs | May ease neck or muscular problems that contribute to migraines; can help treat migraines triggered by menstruation | May cause stomach upset or liver problems; if overused, may contribute to rebound headaches |
| Anti-seizure medications | Cardiovascular side effects avoidable with some types | May cause various side effects, including birth defects |
| Antidepressants | Help treat depression as well as migraines | May be sedating |
| Calcium channel blockers | Can be taken if you have high blood pressure | Slow your heart rate |
