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Migraine

Migraine is a neurological disorder causing recurrent headache attacks, often with nausea and sensitivity to light or sound. Some people have reversible visual, sensory or language symptoms called aura.

Imitrex

Sumatriptan

25 · 50 · 100mg

Developed to alleviate migraine symptoms and intended to support patient comfort.

From$2.91/ tabletView

Maxalt

Rizatriptan

5 · 10mg

This medication is developed to target acute migraine attacks and support relief of associated symptoms through specific receptor action.

From$4.19/ tabletView

Key takeaways

  • Migraine is diagnosed from its pattern, but a first, sudden or substantially changed headache needs assessment for other causes.
  • Acute medicines treat an attack; frequent use can contribute to medication-overuse headache.
  • Preventive treatment is considered when attacks are frequent, prolonged, disabling or hard to treat safely.

A migraine-medicine listing cannot confirm the diagnosis or show that a triptan is safe; cardiovascular history, aura and other medicines matter.

What can an attack involve?

Headache may be one-sided, pulsating and worsened by activity. Nausea, vomiting, light or sound sensitivity can occur. Aura usually develops gradually and resolves, whereas abrupt or persistent neurological loss needs urgent evaluation.

How are attacks treated?

Sumatriptan, rizatriptan and zolmitriptan are acute options for selected patients. Formulation, nausea, prior response and contraindications influence choice. A headache diary can guide neurology review and prevention decisions.

When to seek urgent care

Seek emergency care for a thunderclap headache, fever with neck stiffness, seizure, confusion, new weakness or speech difficulty, persistent vision loss, headache after significant injury, or a major change during pregnancy.