Understanding Migraine Prevention

Prescription medicines can help stop migraines before they start. These include but are not limited to drugs like anticonvulsants, beta-blockers, Botox, triptans, and antidepressants.

You may want to consider medicine to prevent migraines if you get more than four moderate or severe headaches per month. You may also start migraine prevention medicine if your pain impacts your daily life despite treatment, you take a lot of painkillers, don’t get relief from your current treatment, or have side effects.

Preventive medicine may not be the best option for you if your headaches are managed with over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen or if you have pre-existing health conditions that could complicate treatment. If you choose to avoid taking medications altogether, you may consider a nerve-stimulating device designed to help with migraine.

Doctors will often start migraine treatment with the beta-blocker propranolol, the antidepressant amitriptyline, or the anti-seizure medication topiramate. About half of people will have half as many migraines once they're taking the right dose, but it could be up to three months before you start to notice a difference.

Migraine treatment can be costly. Experts put the cost of a year of care at about $6,575 per person. You may be able to get help to meet these expenses through one or more patient assistance programs (PAPs), which help to offer treatment free of charge or at a low cost if you qualify.