How Do Antimigraine Agents Work?

Antimigraine agents are a class of medications used for the treatment of migraine headaches. Migraine occurs when a specific nerve in the blood vessels sends pain signals to the brain. As a result, inflammatory substances get released into the nerves and blood vessels of the head that cause dilation and inflammation of the blood vessels.

There are two types of antimigraine agents:

• Abortive agents: These agents abort an established migraine attack. 
• Preventive antimigraine: These agents are given prophylactically to reduce the number of migraine attacks.

Abortive agents constrict blood vessels and prevent inflammation by stimulating certain receptors in the brain. On the other hand, preventive agents inhibit the release of inflammatory substances and pain transmission to the blood vessels.

Antimigraine agents are used for already established migraines or given as preventive agents to reduce the frequency and severity of the migraine.

Some of the common side effects of antimigraine agents include:

• Injection site pain
• Constipation
• Muscle spasms
• Rash
• Mouth ulcers
• High blood pressure
• Dizziness
• Headache
• Palpitation
• Flushing
• Chills
• Chest pain
• Sleepiness
• Vertigo
• Weakness
• Indigestion
• Difficulty swallowing
• Back pain
• Seizures
• Vomiting

The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible side effects, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. Check with your doctor or pharmacist to make sure these drugs do not cause any harm when you take them along with other medicines. Never stop taking your medication and never change your dose or frequency without consulting your doctor.

Generic and brand names of antimigraine agents include:

• Aimovig
• Almotriptan
• Amerge
• Atogepant (pending FDA approval)
• Axert
• Eletriptan
• Emgality
• Eptinezumab
• Eptinezumab-JJMR
• Erenumab
• Frova
• Frovatriptan
• Galcanezumab
• Galcanezumab-GNLM
• Hemangeol
• Imitrex
• Imitrex Intranasal
• Imitrex Statdose
• Inderal
• Inderal LA
• InnoPran XL
• Lasmiditan
• Maxalt
• Maxalt MLT
• Migard
• Naratriptan
• Nurtec ODT
• Onzetra Xsail
• Propranolol
• Qtrypta
• Qudexy XR
• Relpax
• Reyvow
• Rimegepant
• Rizatriptan
• Sumatriptan
• Sumatriptan intranasal
• Sumatriptan transdermal
• Topamax
• Topiramate
• Tosymra
• Trokendi XR
• Ubrelvy
• Ubrogepant
• Vyepti
• Zecuity
• Zembrace SymTouch
• Zolmitriptan
• Zolmitriptan transdermal
• Zomig
• Zomig Rapimelt
• Zomig-ZMT