Migraine pain relief



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	Migraine Prevention

	Acute Migraine Pain Relief

	Common Questions About Migraine Treatment

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Acute Migraine Pain Relief

Treating the migraine headache in progress
Acute pain relief therapy for migraine aims to relieve the pain of your migraine headache after it has begun and before it gets worse.

In general, the goals of acute migraine pain relief therapy are:

To quickly relieve the pain
To prevent additional symptoms, such as nausea or vomiting
To provide cost-effective, sustained relief

Many people use OTC medicines (see migraine glossary) before they are diagnosed with migraine. However, some people may need a prescription medicine.

OTC medicines can be effective for some people with migraine. The main active ingredients in OTC pain relief medicines are:

Ibuprofen (Motrin® IB)
Aspirin
Acetaminophen (Tylenol®)
Caffeine

It's important to use caution when seeking pain relief with OTC medicines, because sometimes they can actually contribute to a headache. Overuse of OTC medicines to treat migraine pain may cause rebound headaches (see migraine glossary). If you are taking any OTC medicine more than three times a week, talk to your healthcare professional. He or she may suggest a prescription migraine headache medicine that may be more effective for you.

Prescription medicines can be effective for pain relief. The most frequently prescribed medicines for acute migraine pain relief belong to a class of medicines known as "triptans." These medicines provide migraine relief by constricting the blood vessels in the brain (see migraine glossary), bringing them back to normal and relieving the throbbing pain. Triptans have made great strides in the treatment of migraine headache pain, and are also effective in treating other symptoms of migraine (see migraine glossary), such as nausea and sensitivity to light. For best results, triptans and all pain relief medicines for migraine should be taken at the first sign of pain.

AXERT® (almotriptan malate) is part of the class of drugs known as triptans. In clinical trials, some patients reported pain relief as soon as 30 minutes after taking AXERT. See if AXERT could help you.

Alternative remedies may help. Applying cold compresses or lying down in a dark room often helps to relieve pain and other symptoms associated with migraine headaches.

To find out more about pain relief for migraine headaches, read common questions about migraine treatment.

To get the migraine treatment you deserve, work with your healthcare professional.

Could AXERT help you?

One medicine for acute migraine pain relief is AXERT, one of the drugs known as triptans. AXERT can provide fast and lasting migraine pain relief. See if AXERT can help you.

TOPAMAX® (topiramate) Tablets are approved for migraine prevention in adults only. The usefulness of TOPAMAX in the acute treatment of migraine headache has not been studied.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION ABOUT TOPAMAX

Serious risks associated with TOPAMAX include lowered bicarbonate levels in the blood resulting in an increase in the acidity of the blood (metabolic acidosis), and hyperventilation (rapid, deep breathing) or fatigue. More severe symptoms of metabolic acidosis could include irregular heartbeat or changes in the level of alertness. Chronic, untreated metabolic acidosis may increase the risk for kidney stones or bone disease. Your doctor may want to do simple blood tests to measure bicarbonate levels.

Other serious risks include increased eye pressure (glaucoma), decreased sweating, increased body temperature, kidney stones, sleepiness, dizziness, confusion, and difficulty concentrating. Tell your doctor immediately if you have blurred vision or eye pain.

More common side effects are tingling in arms and legs, loss of appetite, nausea, diarrhea, taste change and weight loss.

Tell your doctor about other medications you take.

AXERT® (almotriptan malate) Tablets are indicated for the acute treatment of migraine with or without aura in adults and should be used only when a clear diagnosis of migraine has been established. AXERT is not intended for the prophylactic therapy of migraine or for use in the management of hemiplegic or basilar migraine. Safety and effectiveness of AXERT have not been established for cluster headache, which is present in an older, predominantly male population.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION ABOUT AXERT

AXERT tablets should be used only when a clear diagnosis of migraine has been established. AXERT is not right for everyone. You should not take AXERT if you have known heart disease or risk factors for heart disease or stroke (family history, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, past menopause or smoking). Medicines in this class have been associated with rare reports of serious heart-related problems. Because AXERT may increase blood pressure it should not be taken if you have uncontrolled hypertension. If you're not sure whether you have heart disease or risk factors, ask your doctor.

Before taking AXERT, be sure to tell your doctor about any medicines you are taking or plan to take. As with other medicines in this class, AXERT should not be taken within 24 hours of another triptan or ergotamine. Do no take AXERT if you have had an allergic reaction to any of its ingredients.

The most common side effects are: nausea, sleepiness, tingling in the arms or legs (paresthesia), headache, and dry mouth.

As your healthcare professional about side effects and other important considerations before taking AXERT.

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