Antimigraine drugs

Clonidine, sold under the brand name Catapres, Javadin, Kapvay among others, is an α2-adrenergic receptor agonist, hypotensive and anxiolytic drug used to treat high blood pressure, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, perioperative pain, drug withdrawal (e.g., alcohol, opioids, or nicotine), and menopausal flushing. Clonidine is often prescribed off-label for tics. It is used orally (by mouth), by injection, or as a transdermal skin patch. Onset of action is typically within an hour with the effects on blood pressure lasting for up to eight hours. Xylazine is a structural analog of cloni

Ergotamine, sold under the brand name Ergomar among others, is an ergopeptine and part of the ergot family of alkaloids; it is structurally and biochemically closely related to ergoline. It is structurally similar to several neurotransmitters, and it acts as a vasoconstrictor. It is used for acute migraines, sometimes with caffeine as the combination ergotamine/caffeine.

Bromocriptine, sold under the brand name Parlodel among others, is an ergoline derivative and dopamine agonist that is used in the treatment of pituitary tumors, Parkinson's disease, hyperprolactinaemia, neuroleptic malignant syndrome, and, as an adjunct, type 2 diabetes.

Prochlorperazine, formerly sold under the brand name Compazine among others, is a medication used to treat nausea, migraines, schizophrenia, psychosis and anxiety. It is a less preferred medication for anxiety. It may be taken by mouth, rectally, injection into a vein, or injection into a muscle.

Methylergometrine, also known as methylergonovine and sold under the brand name Methergine, is a medication of the ergoline and lysergamide groups which is used as an oxytocic in obstetrics and as an antimigraine agent in the treatment of migraine headaches. It reportedly produces psychedelic effects similar to those of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) at high doses.

Dihydroergotamine (DHE), sold under the brand names D.H.E. 45 and Migranal among others, is an ergot alkaloid used to treat migraines. It is a derivative of ergotamine. It is administered as a nasal spray or injection and has an efficacy similar to that of sumatriptan. Nausea is a common side effect.

Fremanezumab, sold under the brand name Ajovy, is a medication used to prevent migraines. It is given by subcutaneous injection (injection under the skin).

Methysergide, sold under the brand names Deseril and Sansert, is a monoaminergic medication which is used in the prevention and treatment of migraine and cluster headaches. It has been withdrawn from the market in the United States and Canada due to safety concerns. The drug has also been found to produce psychedelic effects at high doses. It is taken orally.

Lisuride, sold under the brand name Dopergin among others, is a monoaminergic medication of the ergoline family which is used in the treatment of Parkinson's disease, migraine, and high prolactin levels. It is taken by mouth.

Erenumab, sold under the brand name Aimovig, is a medication which blocks the calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor (CGRPR) for the prevention of migraine. It is administered by subcutaneous injection.

Rimegepant, sold under the brand name Nurtec ODT among others, is a medication used for the acute treatment of migraine with or without aura in adults and the prophylactic treatment of episodic migraine in adults. It is taken by mouth to dissolve on or under the tongue. It works by blocking CGRP receptors.

Galcanezumab, sold under the brand name Emgality, is a humanized monoclonal antibody used for the prevention of migraine. It is also used for the treatment of cluster headaches.

Proxibarbital (Ipronal) is a barbiturate derivative synthesized in 1956 in Poland by Bogusław Bobrański. It has anti-anxiety and sedative properties and is, in contrast to most barbiturates, almost without hypnotic action. It was used as a sedative and anti-anxiety drug. It was also used in the treatment of migraine headaches in a similar manner to butalbital. It was a prescription drug available in Poland from the 1950s to the 1990s under trade name Ipronal.

Atogepant, sold under the brand name Qulipta among others, is a medication used to prevent migraines. It is a gepant, a calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor antagonist administered orally.

Zavegepant, sold under the brand name Zavzpret, is a medication used for the treatment of migraine. Zavegepant is a calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor antagonist. It is sprayed into the nose. It is sold by Pfizer.

Pizotifen, also known as pizotyline and sold under the brand names Sandomigran and Mosegor among others, is an antimigraine agent of the tricyclic group which is used primarily as a preventative to reduce the frequency of recurrent migraine headaches.

Oxetorone (), as oxetorone fumarate () (brand names Nocertone, Oxedix), is a serotonin antagonist, antihistamine, and alpha blocker used as an antimigraine drug. Association with hyperprolactinemia has been described and antidopaminergic actions are also suspected.

Ubrogepant, sold under the brand name Ubrelvy, is a medication used for the acute (immediate) treatment of migraine with or without aura (a sensory phenomenon or visual disturbance) in adults. It is not indicated for the preventive treatment of migraine. Ubrogepant is a small-molecule calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor antagonist. It is the first drug in this class approved for the acute treatment of migraine.

Eptinezumab, sold under the brand name Vyepti, is a medication used for the preventive treatment of migraine in adults. It is a monoclonal antibody that targets calcitonin gene-related peptides (CGRP) alpha and beta. It is administered by intravenous infusion.

Telcagepant (INN; development code MK-0974) is a calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor antagonist which was an investigational drug for the acute treatment and prevention of migraine, developed by Merck & Co.

Dimetotiazine (INN) is a phenothiazine drug used for the treatment of migraine. It is a serotonin antagonist and histamine antagonist.

Dihydroergocryptine (DHEC), sold under the brand names Almirid and Cripar among others, is a dopamine agonist of the ergoline group that is used as an antiparkinson agent in the treatment of Parkinson's disease. It is taken by mouth.

BOL-148, also known as 2-bromo-LSD or as bromolysergide, is a non-hallucinogenic serotonin receptor modulator of the lysergamide family related to the psychedelic drug lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD). It is specifically the 2-bromo derivative of LSD.

Dotarizine is a drug used in the treatment of migraine, which acts as a calcium channel blocker, and also as an antagonist at the 5HT2A receptor, and to a lesser extent at the 5HT1A and 5HT2C receptors. The anti-migraine action is thought to be due to its action as a vasodilator, but it also has some anxiolytic effects and blocks amnesia produced by electroconvulsive shock in animals.

Tezampanel (, ) (developmental code names LY-293,558, LY-326,325, NGX-424) is a drug originally developed by Eli Lilly which acts as a competitive antagonist of the AMPA and kainate subtypes of the ionotropic glutamate receptor family, with selectivity for the GluR5 subtype of the kainate receptor. It has neuroprotective and anticonvulsant properties, the former of which may, at least in part, occur via blockade of calcium uptake into neurons.

medication intended to reduce the effects or intensity of migraine headache

Ergotamine/caffeine, sold under the brand name Cafergot among others, is a fixed-dose combination medication used for the treatment of migraine. It contains ergotamine, as the tartrate, an alpha adrenergic blocking agent; and caffeine, a cranial vasoconstrictor.

Lomerizine (INN; trade name Migsis) is a diphenylpiperazine class L-type and T-type calcium channel blocker. This drug is currently used clinically for the treatment of migraines, while also being used experimentally for the treatment of glaucoma and optic nerve injury.