Encyclopedia of Neurological Disorders | Antimigraine Medications

Definition

Antimigraine medications are drugs that are given to lower the risk of a severe migraine attack or to reduce the severity of the headache once an attack begins.

Purpose

Treatment that is given to stop or ease the pain of a migraine headache after it has started is known as acute or abortive treatment.

Preventive treatment for migraine headaches is called migraine prophylaxis or prophylactic therapy. Prophylactic medications are taken when the patient is not having a headache. They have three purposes:

• lower the frequency and severity of the patient's headaches
• make acute migraines more responsive to abortive treatment
• improve the patient's overall quality of life

Not all patients with...