Medication for migraines, consultation with an e-prescription
- Do you suffer from intense, throbbing headaches, especially around the temples?
- Are you more sensitive to light than usual, with worsening pain symptoms?
- Does noise make you feel worse and make it difficult to concentrate?
- Do you experience nausea or even vomiting during a headache attack?
Medication for migraines, consultation with an e-prescription
Online doctor consultation
Consult with a doctor online to quickly receive professional help and return to full activity. Not sure where to start? Choose an e-consultation.
Which consultation should you choose?
Choose an e-prescription if you know which medication you need to manage your migraine
If you need a doctor's advice on choosing the right medication, select an e-consultation
How does it work?
Select a consultation option
Decide whether you want to extend your prescription or talk to your doctor (e.g. to start therapy with a new drug). In the case of psychotropic drugs or strong painkillers, it is necessary to provide data from your IKP or a certificate from your doctor.
Complete the medical questionnaire
Answer a few questions that will help the doctor assess your health. If you are continuing treatment, attach your previous prescription.
Wait for the doctor to contact you
If you have chosen a teleconsultation/videoconsultation, the doctor will call you on the selected date to conduct a consultation. If you have chosen to extend your prescription and are a new patient, the doctor will call to confirm the data from the questionnaire.
Receive your documentation
After the doctor's decision, you will receive a prescription and/or recommendations via text message and e-mail - without leaving your home.
Migraine – questions and answers
How to recognize a migraine?
Migraine pain usually begins in the temple area and affects only one side of the head. Migraines are characterized by intense, throbbing pain. If you're unsure how to recognize a migraine, here are the typical symptoms: nausea (and sometimes vomiting), sensitivity to light, and increased sensitivity to sound.
What are the causes of migraines?
Migraine causes vary. It's believed that migraines are triggered by hypersensitive neurovascular reactions in the brain. Individual predispositions mean that migraine causes can differ widely. Migraine attacks often occur during or after intense emotional stress and may be caused by hormonal changes in women. Other triggers include fasting, strict diets, weather changes, sleep problems, and strong odors.
What types of migraines are there and what are their symptoms?
Ophthalmoplegic migraine – headache accompanied by muscle paralysis and dysfunction Ocular (classic) migraine – one-sided visual disturbances and nausea Migraine with aura – headache preceded by visual disturbances Status migrainosus – migraine lasting more than 72 hours, accompanied by intense vomiting and heavy nasal and eye discharge
Migraine treatment – how to manage it?
Migraine is a chronic condition with unknown etiology. There is no single cure to eliminate migraines permanently. Migraine treatment is usually symptomatic. At the onset of a migraine attack, special migraine tablets can relieve the symptoms. Long-lasting and severe migraines may require preventive therapy, which must be recommended by a doctor. Diagnosing migraines can be difficult, as similar headaches may occur with neurological issues or sinus problems.
How long does a migraine last?
Migraine attacks typically last from 4 to 72 hours.
What medications are used for migraines?
Depending on the severity of symptoms, migraine medications can be over-the-counter or prescription. Prescription drugs include older-generation medications, newer-generation drugs, and opioids.
What are the consequences of untreated migraines?
Untreated migraines—especially those with visual disturbances—can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and lead to ischemic stroke.
Why is migraine treatment important?
Migraine is a serious condition classified in the ICD-10 as G43. Increasing attention is being paid to the impact of migraines on the body—especially when left untreated. Because frequent attacks can affect not only well-being but also health, it’s important to take care of yourself and consult a specialist about migraine treatment.
Prescription medication for migraines
Migraine is a condition that is not yet fully understood. However, medicine has developed various ways to relieve migraine pain and prevent future episodes.
In reality, every effective migraine medication is prescription-based, meaning you need to consult a doctor before using it. Why? Because these drugs are powerful. Sometimes, opioids—strong prescription medications—are used to treat migraines. While effective in relieving and blocking pain, they may also cause addiction.
Fortunately, you don’t have to figure out how to safely treat migraines on your own. You can consult a doctor via Dimedic.eu, where a physician can prescribe tryptans and ergot alkaloid derivatives—drugs that effectively relieve pain without addiction risks. If you're a returning Dimedic patient renewing a prescription for the same medication, the doctor will make the decision without contacting you. If it's your first time starting treatment, the doctor will call to perform an evaluation.
Some medications used prophylactically for migraines are originally intended for treating high blood pressure or epilepsy—they can reduce migraine frequency and improve quality of life.
In cases of frequent migraines, prescription medications like beta-blockers also work well. Beta-blockers block beta-adrenergic receptors and are prescribed for migraine relief.
Antidepressants (both older tricyclic and newer serotonin reuptake inhibitors) are also effective.
The appropriate treatment is prescribed by a doctor, based on a detailed medical interview and any available test results.
Prescription migraine medications – types of drugs
Migraine medications can be categorized by generation:
Older-generation migraine tablets – Prescription medications used for acute migraine treatment. These include ergot alkaloid derivatives that block α-adrenergic vascular receptors, causing blood vessel constriction in the head and reducing pain. Though effective, they are less commonly used due to side effects like nausea, vomiting, blood pressure fluctuations, numbness, and muscle cramps. Examples include: Ergotamine, Dihydroergotamine, Dihydroergotoxin. Available as tablets, suppositories, or nasal sprays.
New-generation prescription medications – These are tryptans, selective 5-HT1B/D receptor agonists that cause blood vessel constriction and reduce neurovascular inflammation. Tryptans include: sumatriptan (e.g., Sumamigren, Imigran), zolmitriptan (e.g., Zolmiles), eletriptan, naratriptan, and frovatriptan. Forms include oral tablets, sublingual tablets, suppositories, nasal sprays, and injections.
Opioids – Very strong painkillers prescribed only when other medications fail. Examples: codeine, tramadol (weaker); morphine, fentanyl, heroin (stronger). Though effective, opioids carry addiction risk and may increase pain sensitivity over time. Therefore, they are a last resort.
Over-the-counter migraine tablets
While prescription drugs are best for severe migraine attacks, over-the-counter painkillers can be effective for mild to moderate migraines.
OTC migraine medications include NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs):
Acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin)
Ibuprofen
Naproxen
Diclofenac
Ketoprofen
Paracetamol
These drugs work by inhibiting cyclooxygenase (COX), an enzyme that promotes inflammation, thus reducing symptoms. NSAIDs usually provide pain relief within 30 minutes and last about 6 hours. Paracetamol works similarly, is gentler on the body, and can be used during pregnancy and breastfeeding—its effect begins around 1 hour after intake and lasts 5–6 hours.
You can also buy OTC migraine tablets with caffeine. Caffeine isn’t a migraine drug itself, but it enhances the effects of other medications like paracetamol or ergotamine. However, long-term use is not recommended, as the body builds tolerance and migraine episodes may require higher doses.
Medical support for migraines is essential!
Now that you know what helps with migraines and that effective treatment involves prescription medications, don’t hesitate to seek professional help to avoid complications.
If you don’t want or don’t have time for an in-person visit, use an online consultation through Dimedic.eu. The doctor will assess your needs and recommend the best treatment based on your symptoms and expectations. If you're a returning Dimedic patient, the doctor may renew your prescription without direct contact. For new treatment plans, the doctor will call to perform a consultation.