How does abortive therapy work?
You take abortive therapy medications early during a headache. They’re usually used for migraine headaches. These drugs stop the process causing headache pain. They help reduce headache symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light and sound.
For best results, take these medicines when you first notice the migraine. If you get a migraine aura (disturbance of senses), you may need to avoid some of these medications. Talk to your healthcare provider to figure out which medications are right for you.
Can IV drugs help stop a migraine?
Some headaches — especially migraines — last for more than 24 hours and don’t respond to other abortive medications. In these situations, your healthcare provider may recommend you get medication at an infusion site.
This site is usually a set of rooms at a hospital or clinic where people receive IV drugs. A nurse monitors the people receiving infusions. Generally, IV drugs can end the migraine attack, even when other abortive medicines were unsuccessful. You may be at the infusion site for a few hours or a full day, depending on your symptoms.
Can children take abortive therapies?
The FDA has approved some abortive therapies for teenagers but none for younger children. Talk to your child’s healthcare provider to figure out the best way to treat headaches.
What abortive therapy headache medicines are available?
Medications that can stop migraine headaches include:
Generic name: Ergot, dihydroergotamine, mesylate
- Brand name: DHE-45®, Injection Migranal® intranasal.
- Possible side effects: Nausea, numbness of fingers and toes. These medications cause narrowing of your blood vessels. If you have a history of coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction or stroke, you shouldn’t take these medications.
Generic Name: Triptans, sumatriptan succinate*, zolmitriptan*, rizatriptan*, naratriptan HCI†, almotriptan malate*$, frovatriptan succinate†, eletriptan hydrobromide*
- Brand name: Imitrex® injection, oral or intranasal; Zomig®, oral or Intranasal; Maxalt® oral; Amerge®oral; Axert® oral; Frova® oral; Relpax ®oral.
- Possible side effects: Nausea, headache, sleepiness, dry mouth, dizziness, fatigue, hot or cold sensations, chest pain, flushing, sense of tightness around chest or throat, numbness. (However, people generally tolerate these medicines well.) These medications cause narrowing of your blood vessels. If you have a history of coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction or stroke, you shouldn’t take these medications.