Is advil or tylenol better for migraine

Is advil or tylenol better for migraine

Many headache sufferers reach for over-the-counter ibuprofen (like Advil or Motrin) or acetaminophen (aka Tylenol) or Excedrin Migraine when they develop a headache. Sometimes that will be enough to reduce or eliminate the headache pain, but often it either doesn’t work or only helps temporarily. After a few hours, the headache will return, and to be able to function at home and at work, headache sufferers will reach for additional doses throughout the day. For people with frequent or chronic headaches this can add up to a whole lot of over-the-counter painkillers. 

Because over-the-counter medications don’t require a prescription they may seem harmless, but in fact taking these pills too frequently can cause real health problems. The first problem with taking ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) is that these medications can erode the lining of your stomach and cause internal bleeding, and over time they can cause liver and kidney damage as well and pose potential cardiovascular risks. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) can cause liver damage, both over time and quickly (especially if combined with alcohol). A new OTC painkiller, Advil Dual-Action, contains both ibuprofen and acetaminophen, which may make it more effective for occasional use but also means more negative side effects if taken too often.

In the case of Excedrin Migraine you are taking not only acetaminophen but also aspirin (which can cause stomach bleeding in a similar way to Advil) and caffeine. Both caffeine and over-the-counter painkillers taken in excess cause Medication Overuse Headaches. Medication Overuse Headaches will eventually transform Episodic migraines (defined as 14 or fewer headaches per month) to Chronic migraines (15 or more headaches per month). Medication Overuse headaches are among the most difficult headaches to treat.

Get Migraine Treatment At Home

Nurx offers prescription treatment for migraines for as little as $0 with insurance or $25 per month without insurance.

If you experience migraine headaches more than occasionally,  you are better off treating them with a prescription medication, which will treat them more effectively and pose fewer risks than frequent use of OTC medications. By using medications developed specifically to treat migraines (triptans like Imitrex and gepants like Nurtec), the headaches will usually go away and stay away,  and there are fewer potential side effects from triptans and gepants than from Excedrin and Advil.  While triptans can cause Medication Overuse headaches if taken too often, they are needed less often because the headaches respond better to triptans than the over the counter medications.  And, gepants do not have any potential to cause Medication Overuse Headaches.

The bottom line? Even if you think you can manage your headaches with over-the-counter painkillers, you’ll likely be better off both in terms of headache relief and overall health by consulting with a healthcare provider to get prescription medication.

Migraine headaches are among the symptoms of a condition called migraine. Some medications can ease the pain and symptoms of a migraine headache. Others can help prevent the headaches. Talk to your doctor about which ones are right for you.

Drugs That Stop Migraine Headaches

You take these drugs at the first sign of a migraine attack. They’re called "abortive" drugs. They prevent common symptoms like pain, nausea, and sound and light sensitivity. Some of these should not be used during a migraine with aura, so follow your doctor's instructions.

Category Generic Name Examples of Brand Names May be used during an aura? Some Side Effects
Over-the-counter ibuprofen Advil, Motrin  

Stomach upset or bleeding
Rash
Swelling

May raise risk of heart attack or stroke

  aspirin + acetaminophen + caffeine Excedrin Migraine,
Excedrin,
Goody's
  Heartburn
Anxiety
Insomnia
Allergic reaction
Liver damage
Blood in stool or vomit
Dizziness
Easy bruising
  acetaminophen  Tylenol
 
  Liver damage
Allergic reactions
Rashes
  naproxen

Aleve,
Anaprox DS (prescription only),
Naprosyn (prescription only)

  Stomach upset
Stomach bleeding
Nausea
Vomiting
Rash
Liver damage
May raise risk of heart attack or stroke
Ergot dihydroergotamine DHE-45 injection,
Ergomar,
Migranal nasal spray
Yes Nausea
Numbness of fingers and toes
Triptans sumatriptan succinate

Imitrex injection, oral, intranasal
Zembrace injection,

Onzetra inhaled,

Tosymra nasal spray

Not with hemiplegic migraine, migraine with brainstem aura, stroke, heart disease, or uncontrolled hypertension, or pregnancy Dizziness
Tingling
Flushing
Feelings of chest heaviness, burning, or tightness
Nausea
  zolmitriptan Zomig Not with hemiplegic migraine, migraine with brainstem aura, stroke, heart disease, or uncontrolled hypertension Dizziness
Tingling
Flushing
Feelings of chest heaviness, burning, or tightness
Nausea
  rizatriptan Maxalt Not with hemiplegic migraine, migraine with brainstem aura, stroke, heart disease, or uncontrolled hypertension Dizziness
Tingling
Flushing
Feelings of chest heaviness, burning, or tightness
Nausea
  naratriptan Amerge Not with hemiplegic migraine, migraine with brainstem aura, stroke, heart disease, or uncontrolled hypertension Dizziness
Tingling
Flushing
Feelings of chest heaviness, burning, or tightness
Nausea
  almotriptan Axert Not with hemiplegic migraine, migraine with brainstem aura, stroke, heart disease, or uncontrolled hypertension Tiredness
Dizziness
Headache
Nausea
Chest pain
  frovatriptan Frova Not with hemiplegic migraine, migraine with brainstem aura, stroke, heart disease, or uncontrolled hypertension Dizziness
Flushing
Palpitations
Chest pain
Headache
Tingling
Nausea
  eletriptan Relpax Not with hemiplegic migraine, migraine with brainstem aura, stroke, heart disease, or uncontrolled hypertension Dizziness
Tingling
Flushing
Feelings of chest heaviness, burning, or tightness
Nausea
Headache
Combination triptan + NSAID sumatriptan + naproxen Treximet Not with hemiplegic migraine, migraine with brainstem aura, stroke, heart disease, or uncontrolled hypertension Head, jaw, chest, and arm discomfort, tightening, or tingling
Throat discomfort
Muscle cramps
Flushing
Stomach upset or bleeding
Nausea
Vomiting
Rash
Liver damage
Ditan

Lasmidtan

Reyvow yes

Dizziness

Sleepiness

Numbness

Feeling tired

Tingling

CGRP 

Antagonists 

Atogepant Qulipta no

Constipation

Nausea

Upper respiratory infection

Rimegepant Nutrec

yes

Nausea

UTI 

Allergic reaction

  Ubrogepant Ubrelvy yes

Drowsiness

Nausea

Dry mouth

Nausea Drugs for Migraines

Many people who have migraines often have nausea and vomiting along with head pain. Those symptoms usually get better when you treat the migraine. But sometimes, the nausea and vomiting are bad enough to keep a person from taking their migraine medications. In these cases, a nausea drug can ease your symptoms so you can get the treatment you need.

Most nausea medicines come in pill form, but if the problem is severe, you can take them as a rectal suppository.

Generic Name

Examples of Brand Names

Possible Side Effects

promethazine hydrochloride (tablet, syrup, injection, or suppository)

Phenergan

Confusion, drowsiness, dizziness, upset stomach, excitability, nightmares, uncontrollable muscle movements, lip smacking or chewing movements

chlorpromazine (suppository)

Thorazine

Confusion, drowsiness, dizziness, upset stomach, excitability, nightmares, uncontrollable muscle movements, lip smacking or chewing movements

prochlorperazine (tablet and suppository)

Compazine

Confusion, drowsiness, dizziness, upset stomach, excitability, nightmares, uncontrollable muscle movements, lip smacking or chewing movements

Trimetho-benzamide hydrochloride (capsule, injection, syrup, or suppository)

Tigan

Low blood pressure, blurred vision, drowsiness, dizziness, feeling disoriented, uncontrollable muscle movements, lip smacking or chewing movements

metoclopramide hydrochloride (syrup, tablet, or injection)

Reglan

Uncontrollable muscle movements, lip smacking or chewing movements, sensitivity to sunlight, aching in the lower legs, diarrhea

Drugs for Migraine Prevention

If you have 4 or more migraine days each month, you may take these drugs regularly to keep migraine attacks from happening. They lessen the number of headaches you have and how severe they are.

You have to follow your doctor’s directions for them to work. Your doctor may need to change the medications and adjust how much you take to figure out what works best for you.

While you’re taking these drugs, write down how often you have headaches and how bad they are to help your doctor judge how well they are working. Most need days or weeks to take full effect.

Once your headaches are under control for 6 months or a year, you might be able to taper off or stop these drugs. Your doctor will advise you.

The medications listed include both over-the-counter and prescription drugs. They aren't habit-forming, but any medication can have side effects. Your doctor will adjust the dosage to give you the most relief with the fewest side effects.

Category Generic Name Examples of Brand Names Treatment Information Possible Side Effects
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories

diclofenac

Cataflam

generics available

Headache pain relief,
Menstrual migraine prevention

Stomach upset
Drowsiness
Dizziness
Vision problems
Ulcers
May raise risk of heart attack or stroke

  ibuprofen

Advil
Motrin

Headache pain relief
Menstrual migraine prevention

Stomach upset or bleeding
Nausea
Vomiting
Rash
Liver damage
May raise risk of heart attack or stroke

  naproxen sodium

Aleve
Anaprox DS

Naprosyn

Headache pain relief
Menstrual migraine prevention

Stomach upset or bleeding
Nausea
Vomiting
Rash
Liver damage
May raise risk of heart attack or stroke

Tricyclic antidepressants amitriptyline

generics available

Often started at low dosages and slowly increased to a helpful level
EKG may be needed
Blood tests may be needed while taking this medication.
Taken nightly
Fatigue
Dry mouth
Weight gain
Constipation
Drowsiness
Blurred vision
Older adults also may feel confusion or faintness.
SNRI antidepressants

venlafaxine

duloxetine

Effexor

Cymbalta

generics available

  Sleep problems
Drowsiness
Dizziness
Vision changes
Less sexual desire or ability
Headaches
Beta-blockers atenolol
metoprolol
nadolol
propranolol
timolol

Tenormin

Lopressor, Toprol XL

Corgard

Inderal

Depending on the form, may be taken one to three times a day Fatigue
Depression
Weight gain
Memory disturbance
Faintness
Diarrhea
Anticonvulsants topiramate Qudexy XR
Topamax
Trokendi XR
Often started at low dosages and slowly increased to a helpful level Tingling in the arms
Nausea
Drowsiness
Weight loss
  valproate Depakene
Depakote
Stavzor
Depends on the form. Usually once or twice a day. Nausea
Tiredness
Tremor
Dizziness
Weight gain
Hair loss
Birth defects
CGRP inhibitors

eptinezumab

Vypeti Quarterly IV by health care provider

Stuffy nose
Scratchy throat
Allergic reactions

 

erenumab

Aimovig Once a month, self-injections with a prefilled pen Mild pain and redness at the injection site
Constipation
Allergic reactions
  fremanezumab Ajovy Monthly or quarterly, self-injection with a prefilled syringe. Use with caution in people with heart or blood vessel disease. Mild pain and redness at the injection site
Allergic reactions
  galcanezumab Emgality Monthly, self-injection with a prefilled pen or syringe. Use with caution in people with heart or blood vessel disease. Mild pain and redness at the injection site
Allergic reactions
Botulinum toxin type A onabotulinumtoxin A Botox Multiple injections are given about every 3 months to prevent chronic headache. Headache
Neck pain

Warning: You should not take triptans with SSRI or SNRI antidepressants. You may get a life-threatening condition called serotonin syndrome. Check all your medications with your doctor.

Which painkiller is best for migraine?

NSAIDS — or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs — are the first line of treatment when it comes to migraines. These include ibuprofen, which is known by the brand names of Motrin and Advil; and naproxen, which is known as Aleve.

Is Advil good for migraine?

Yes, Advil Migraine is clinically proven to relieve migraine pain and related symptoms, including nausea and sensitivity to light and sound.

What gets rid of migraines fast?

Warm showers or baths may have a similar effect. Sip a caffeinated drink. In small amounts, caffeine alone can relieve migraine pain in the early stages. Caffeine also may enhance the pain-reducing effects of acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) and aspirin.