A new study suggests that some recently marketed migraine medications may not be more effective than standard painkillers for treating acute migraine episodes.
The study analyzed 137 trials with 89,445 adults, testing 17 different migraine drugs. Researchers then compared how well these treatments relieved pain within two hours and sustained relief for up to 24 hours, according to the analysis published Sept. 18 in The BJM.
The results showed that traditional pain medications like ibuprofen and certain triptans (eletriptan, rizatriptan, sumatriptan and zolmitriptan) were more effective in providing pain relief within two hours and sustaining relief for up to 24 hours. By comparison, newer migraine medications like lasmiditan, rimegepant and ubrogepant were found to be less effective and associated with side effects like dizziness and nausea.
Researchers concluded that the more established triptans remain the best option for acute migraine treatment.