Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Do Over-the-counter medications help the physician manage migraine headache?

  • Published:
Current Pain and Headache Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The use of over-the-counter-medication in migraine treatment is commonplace. They are often used in addition to physician-prescribed medications and may be used without the full knowledge of the physician. Although considerable evidence suggests their efficacy in migraine treatment, they are rarely used to maximal levels of efficacy and safety. A review of the evidence for these treatments is important for cost effective, well-tolerated, and specific treatment of migraine headache.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References and Recommended Reading

  1. Boureau F, Joubert JM, Lasserre V, et al.: Double-blind comparison of an acetaminophen 400 mg-codeine 25 mg combination versus aspirin 1000 mg and placebo in acute migraine attack. Cephalalgia 1994, 14:156–161.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Tfelt-Hansen P, Olesen J: Effervescent metoclopramide and aspirin (Migravess) versus effervescent aspirin or placebo for migraine attacks: a double-blind study. Cephalalgia 1984, 4:107–111.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Lange R, Schwarz JA, Hohn M: Acetylsalicylic acid effervescent 1000 mg (aspirin) in the acute migraine attacks; a multicenter, randomized, double blind, single-dose, placebocontrolled parallel group study. Cephalalgia 2000, 20:663–667.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Oral Sumatriptan and Aspirin-plus-Metoclopramide Comparative Study Group: A study to compare oral sumatriptan with oral aspirin plus oral metoclopramide in the acute treatment of migraine. Eur Neurol 1992, 32:177–184.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Larsen BH, Christiansen LV, Andersen B, Olesen J: Randomized double-blind comparison of tolfenamic acid and paracetamol in migraine. Acta Neurol Scand 1990, 81:464–467.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Pearce I, Frank GJ, Pearce JM: Ibuprofen compared with paracetamol in migraine. Practitioner 1983, 227:465–467.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Lipton RB, Baggish JS, Stewart WF, et al.: Efficacy and safety of acetaminophen in the treatment of migraine. Arch Intern Med 2000, 160:3486–3492.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Hämäläinen MJ, Hoppu K, Valkeila E, Santavuori P: Ibuprofen or acetaminophen for the acute treatment of migraine in children. Neurology 1997, 48:103–107.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Nebe J, Heier M, Diener HC: Low-dose ibuprofen in selfmedication of mild to moderate headache: a comparison with acetylsalicylic acid and placebo. Cephalalgia 1995, 15:531–535.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Sandrini G, Franchini S, Lanfranchi S, et al.: Effectiveness of ibuprofen-arginine in the treatment of acute migraineattacks. Int J Clin Pharm Res 1998, 18:145–150.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Kellstein DE, Lipton RB, Geetha R, et al.: Evaluation of a novel solubilized formulation of ibuprofen in the treatment of migraine headache: a randomized, double blind, placebocontrolled, dose-ranging study. Cephalalgia 2000, 20:233–243.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Lipton RB, Stewart WF, Ryan RE Jr., et al.: Efficacy and safety of acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine in alleviating migraine headache pain. Arch. Neurol 1998, 55:210–217. This combination agent is the first to receive an FDA label for migraine specific treatment in the over-the-counter market.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Diamond S, Balm TK, Freitag FG: Ibuprofen plus caffeine in the treatment of tension-type headache. Clin Pharmacol Ther 2000, 68:312–319.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Goldstein J, Hoffman HD, Armellino JJ, et al.: Treatment of severe, disabling migraine attacks in an over-the-counter population of migraine sufferers: results from three randomized, placebo-controlled studies of the combination of acetaminophen, aspirin and caffeine. Cephalalgia 1999, 19:684–691.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Silberstein SD, Armellino JJ, Hoffman HD, et al.: Treatment of menstruation-associated migraine with the nonprescription combination of acetaminophen, aspirin and caffeine: results from three randomized placebo-controlled studies. ClinTher 1999, 21:475–491.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Migliardi, JR, Armellino JJ, Friedman M, et al.: Caffeine as an analgesic adjuvant in tension headache. Clin Pharmacol Ther 1994, 56:576–586.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. O’Neill BP, Mann JD: Aspirin prophylaxis in migraine. Lancet 1978, 2:1179–1181.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Buring JE, Peto R, Hennekens CH: Low dose aspirin for migraine prophylaxis. JAMA 1990, 264:1711–1713.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Bensenor IM, Cook, NR, Lee, IM, et al.: Low-dose aspirin for migraine prophylaxis in women. Cephalalgia 2001, 21:167–168.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Vogler BK, Pittler MH, Ernst E: Feverfew as preventive treatment for migraine: a systematic review. Cephalalgia 1998, 18:704–708. Comprehensive review of feverfew as a migraine treatment.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Silberstein S: Practice parameter: evidence-based guidelines for migraine headache (an evidence-based review). Neurology 2000, 55:754–762. This is a concise version of the evidence-based medicine comprehensive guidelines found on the American Academy of Neurology website.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Pfaffenrath V, Wessely P, Meyer C, et al.: Magnesium in the prophylaxis of migraine: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Cephalalgia 1996, 16:436–440.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Peikert A, Wilimzig C, Köhne-Volland R: Prophylaxis of migraine with oral magnesium: results from a prospective, multi-center, placebo-controlled and double-blind randomized trial. Cephalalgia 1996, 16:257–263.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Facchinetti F, Sances G, Borella P, et al.: Magnesium prophylaxis of menstrual migraine: effects on intracellular magnesium. Headache 1991, 31:298–301.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Schoenen J, Lenaerts M, Bastings E: High-dose riboflavin as a prophylactic treatment of migraine: results of an open pilot study. Cephalalgia 1994, 14:328–329.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Schoenen J, Jacguy J, Lenaerts M: Effectiveness of high-dose riboflavin in migraine prophylaxis a randomized controlled trial. Neurology 1998, 50:466–470.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Grossman M, Schmidramsl H: An extract of Petasites hybridus is effective in the prophylaxis of migraine. Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther 2000, 38:430–435.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Whitmarsh TE, Coleston-Shields DM, Steiner TJ: Double-blind randomized placebo-controlled study of homeopathic prophylaxis of migraine. Cephalalgia 1997, 17:600–604.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Straumsheim P, Borchgrevink C, Mowinckel P, et al.: Homeopathic treatment of migraine: a double blind placebo controlled trial of 68 patients. Br Homeopath J 2000, 89:4–7.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Edmeads J, Findlay H, Tugwell P, et al.: Impact of migraine and tension-type headache on life style, consulting behavior, and medication use: a Canadian population survey. Can J Neurol Sci 1993, 20:131–137.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Stewart WF, Lipton RB: Migraine headache: epidemiology and health care utilization. Cephalalgia 1993, 13(suppl12):41–46.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Forward SP, McGrath PJ, MacKinnon D, et al.: Medication patterns of recurrent headache sufferers: a community study. Cephalalgia 1998, 18:146–151.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Elkind A: Drug abuse and headache. Med Clin North Am 1991, 75:717–732.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Freitag, F.G. Do Over-the-counter medications help the physician manage migraine headache?. Current Science Inc 6, 156–161 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-002-0013-x

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-002-0013-x

Keywords

Navigation