What are some of the main medical treatments for migraine?

    Written by:

    Fact-checked

    by:

    Last Updated: May 16, 2025

    The main medical treatments for acute migraine include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen and naproxen, as well as triptans such as sumatriptan and rizatriptan. If these are insufficient, preventative treatments may involve antiseizure, blood pressure, and antidepressant medications, which should be discussed with a healthcare provider.

    In patients with acute migraine, first line treatments usually include two classes of medicines: nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) and triptans. Examples of NSAIDS are ibuprofen and naproxen, and examples of triptans are sumatriptan and rizatriptan.[1] When these treatments are not enough to treat the migraine or when migraines still occur too often, preventative treatments may be prescribed.[2] These can include antiseizure, blood pressure,and antidepressant medications. Consult with your health care provider about what treatments are right for you.