Headaches & Migraines

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Headache & Migraine Medications
(listed alphabetically)

C

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Cafergot
  • Rx, abortive, ergot derivative
  • generally effective, but many potential side effects including nausea, dizziness, anxiety
  • available in tablets, and suppositories
  • causes severe rebound headaches when taken often
  • contraindicated for patients with hypertension or cardiac risk factors
  • Do not take caffeine and ergotamine if you are pregnant or if you could become pregnant during treatment. Caffeine and ergotamine is in the FDA pregnancy category X. This means that caffeine and ergotamine can cause harm to an unborn baby. Caffeine and ergotamine can induce uterine contractions, which can result in abortion, and it can restrict blood flow to the fetus
  • more info
  • FDA approved prescribing information for suppositories
Cafergot PB Suppositories 
  • Rx, abortive, Ergotamine tartrate, caffeine, belladonna, and Phenobarbital
  • less nausea than Cafergot
  • sedative effect due to the Phenobarbital
  • see Cafergot
  • Do not take caffeine and ergotamine if you are pregnant or if you could become pregnant during treatment. Caffeine and ergotamine is in the FDA pregnancy category X. This means that caffeine and ergotamine can cause harm to an unborn baby. Caffeine and ergotamine can induce uterine contractions, which can result in abortion, and it can restrict blood flow to the fetus
  • more info
Celebrex  (Celecobix)
  • Rx, Antirheumatic, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory
  • Other medications: tell your doctor if you are taking any medications, especially: Aspirin, Fluconazole (e.g., Diflucan), Lithium (e.g., Lithane)
  • Other medical conditions: be sure to tell your doctor if you have any other medical conditions, especially: alcohol abuse, bleeding problems, stomach ulcer or other stomach or intestinal problems, tobacco use (or recent history of), anemia, asthma, dehydration, fluid retention (swelling of feet or lower legs), heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney disease, liver disease
  • Use during pregnancy: Celecoxib has not been studied in pregnant women, but there is a chance that this medicine may cause unwanted effects on the heart or blood flow of the fetus or newborn baby if it is taken regularly during the last few months of pregnancy. Studies in animals have shown that celecoxib has caused birth defects of the ribs and sternebrae. Before taking this medicine, make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.
  • Potential side effects: 
    • Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur: cough; fever; skin rash; sneezing; sore throat; swelling of face, fingers, feet, and/or lower legs, bloody or black tarry stools; burning feeling in chest or stomach; chills; congestion in chest; cough; diarrhea; fatigue; fever; loss of appetite; muscle aches and pains; nausea; shortness of breath; stomach pain (severe); tenderness in stomach area; unusual weight gain; vomiting of blood or material that looks like coffee grounds; weakness
    • The following do not usually require medical attention, but consult your doctor if they continue or become bothersome: back pain; dizziness; gas; headache; heartburn; inability to sleep; nausea; pain or burning in throat; stomach pain; stuffy or runny nose, anxiety; blurred vision; buzzing or ringing noise in ears; change in sense of taste; constipation; decreased appetite; depression; difficulty swallowing; dry mouth; fast heartbeat; increased sweating; joint or muscle pain or stiffness; loss of energy or weakness; nervousness; numbness or tingling in fingers and/or toes; pain or burning in throat; pounding heartbeat; sleepiness; sudden sweating and feelings of warmth; unusual tiredness; vomiting
  • FDA info sheet
  • FDA approved prescribing information
Celexa (Citalopram) 
  • Rx, preventive, SSRI antidepressant
  • Brand names: Celexa in U.S. and Canada
  • Other medications: tell your doctor if you are taking any medications, especially: Bromocriptine (e.g., Parlodel); Buspirone (e.g., BuSpar); some tricyclic antidepressants (amitriptyline [e.g., Elavil], clomipramine [e.g., Anafranil], or imipramine [e.g., Tofranil]); Dextromethorphan; Levodopa (e.g., Sinemet); Lithium (e.g., Eskalith); Meperidine (e.g., Demerol); Moclobemide (e.g., Manerix); Nefazodone (e.g., Serzone); Pentazocine (e.g., Talwin); other SSRI antidepressants (fluoxetine [e.g., Prozac], fluvoxamine [e.g., Luvox], paroxetine [e.g., Paxil], sertraline [e.g., Zoloft]); Street drugs (LSD, MDMA [e.g., ecstasy], marijuana); Sumatriptan (e.g., Imitrex); Tramadol (e.g., Ultram); Trazodone (e.g., Desyrel); Tryptophan; Venlafaxine (e.g., Effexor); Monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors (furazolidone [e.g., Furoxone], isocarboxazid [e.g., Marplan], phenelzine [e.g., Nardil], procarbazine [e.g., Matulane], selegiline [e.g., Eldepryl], tranylcypromine [e.g., Parnate])-- Do not take citalopram while you are taking or within 2 weeks of taking an MAO inhibitor. 
  • Other medical conditions: be sure to tell your doctor if you have any other medical conditions, especially: Diabetes, kidney disease, liver disease, mania (history of), seizure disorders (history of)
  • Use during pregnancy: Studies have not been done in pregnant women. However, studies in animals have shown that Celexa may cause decreased survival rates and slowed growth in offspring when given to the mother in doses many times higher than the usual human dose. Before taking this medicine, make sure your doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.
  • Potential side effects:

    • The most common side effect with Celexa is sexual problems in male patients.

    • Check with your doctor as soon as possible if you experience any of the following: decrease in sexual desire or ability, agitation; blurred vision; confusion; fever; increase in frequency of urination or amount of urine produced; lack of emotion; loss of memory; menstrual changes; skin rash or itching; trouble in breathing, anxiety; behavior change similar to drunkenness; bleeding gums; breast tenderness or enlargement or unusual secretion of milk (in females); difficulty in concentrating; dizziness or fainting; increased hunger; irregular heartbeat; low blood sodium (confusion, convulsions [seizures], drowsiness, dryness of mouth, increased thirst, lack of energy); mood or mental changes; nervousness; nose bleed; painful urination; purple or red spots on skin; sore throat, fever, and chills; red or irritated eyes; redness, tenderness, itching, burning, or peeling of skin; serotonin syndrome (agitation, confusion, diarrhea, fever, overactive reflexes, poor coordination, restlessness, shivering, sweating, talking or acting with excitement you cannot control, trembling or shaking, twitching); shakiness; slow or irregular heartbeat (less than 50 beats per minute); trouble in holding or releasing urine; unusual or sudden body or facial movements or postures

    • The following do not usually require medical attention, but consult your doctor if they continue or become bothersome: drowsiness; dryness of mouth; nausea; trouble sleeping, abdominal pain; anxiety; change in sense of taste; diarrhea; gas; headache (severe and throbbing); heartburn; increased sweating; increased yawning; loss of appetite; pain in muscles or joints; stuffy or runny nose; tingling, burning, or prickly feelings on skin; tooth grinding; trembling or shaking; unusual increase or decrease in weight; unusual tiredness or weakness; vomiting; watering of mouth

  • FDA info sheet

  • FDA approved prescribing information
Compazine (Prochlorperazine)
  • Rx, antiemetic, neuroleptic
  • very effective for nausea. Often aborts migraine as well when injected IV
  • also available in spansules and suppositories
  • It is not known whether prochlorperazine will harm an unborn baby. Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are pregnant.
  • It is not known whether prochlorperazine will harm a nursing infant. Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
  • possible side effects: extrapyramidal effects, hypotension, fatigue, anxiety and agitation
  • for more information, see phenothiazines
  • FDA approved prescribing information

Material on this page is for informational purposes only,
and should not be construed as medical advice.
Always consult your physician or pharmacist regarding medications.

 

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Headaches & Migraines

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