Review your treatment options
What over-the-counter treatments are available?
Ask your pharmacist for further information on the over-the-counter treatments to confirm if these drugs are suitable for you.
These include:
Painkillers
Triptans
Others
Painkillers
Painkillers can be used to relieve the pain of migraine headache.
Paracetamol
Paracetamol is used to relieve a migraine headache.
Do not take paracetamol:
If you have ever had an allergic reaction to paracetamol
If taking other medicines containing paracetamol
NSAIDs- Ibuprofen, Aspirin
Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and aspirin relieve a migraine headache.
Do not take NSAIDs:
If you are taking other NSAID painkillers
If you are in the last 3 months of pregnancy
If you suffer from severe liver or kidney problems
If you suffer from any blood disorders or are taking medicines that reduce blood clotting e.g. warfarin
If you have ever had an allergic reaction to ibuprofen, aspirin or any other NSAIDs.
If you have ever had a stomach ulcer, perforation or bleeding of the stomach
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Triptans
Sumatriptan
Sumatriptan actually treats the root cause of the migraine, relieving the four main symptoms; headache, nausea, and sensitivity to light and sound. It acts on specific parts of the brain that respond to a naturally ocurring substance within the brain called seratonin, which is understood to be implicated in migraine attacks.
Don’t take sumatriptan:
Unless you suffer from migraines and this has been confirmed by a doctor or pharmacist
If you are trying to prevent a migraine attack – only take it when your migraine headache begins
Until you are sure it is a migraine and not just an regular headache
If you are under 18 or over 65
If you have had an allergic reaction to sumatriptan, or any ingredients in the tablets, or to sulphonamide antibiotics
If you have heart problems including heart failure, a previous heart attack, angina (chest pains), or an irregular heartbeat
If you have had a stroke or mini stroke (also called transient ischaemic attack or TIA)
If you have had high blood pressure or are being treated for it
If you have kidney or liver disease
If you have epilepsy or are prone to seizures (fits)
If you have circulation problems in your legs and have cramp-like pains in your legs when you walk, or if your doctor has told you that you suffer from peripheral vascular disease
If your doctor diagnosed one of the rare forms of migraine (hemiplegic, basilar or opthalmoplegic migraine)
If you are taking antidepressants called monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) e.g. phenelzine, isocarboxazid and tranylcypramine or have taken them in the last two weeks
If you are taking other migraine treatments.
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Others
Caffeine and Codeine
Caffeine and low doses of codeine can sometimes be used in combination with other painkillers such as paracetamol to help make them more powerful.
Anti-emetics
To target the nausea experienced by migraine sufferers, anti-emetics
(anti-sickness) are available such as buclizine which is combined with a pain
reliever, or domperidone.
Ask your pharmacist for further information on the over-the-counter treatments and confirm if these drugs are suitable for you.
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