How to STOP  Headaches

There are several ways to stop headaches. This section aims to help you understand how you can stop a headache as it's happening, known as abortive therapy.

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Self-Care Methods for Stopping Headaches

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We find in our practice that there’s value and benefit to comfort-directed measures when it comes to headache. Maybe you already know what self-care methods work for you. If you're looking for new methods, here are a few for you to consider:

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• Rest or nap in a quiet, cool, dark environment.

• Stay hydrated! Drink two to three glasses of water when you feel a headache coming on. 

  • This is so important! Many headaches are caused by dehydration. Drinking six to eight glasses of water daily can keep you hydrated.

• Relax and reduce your stress. Try things you know help reduce your stress. Consider meditation apps (Calm, Headspace, etc.), or taking a bath.

  • Learn more about relaxation and breathing exercises for headaches.​

• Apply a warm or cold compress to the forehead. You may find that one works better for you than the other. ​

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Over-the-Counter (OTC) Rescue Medications

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When self-care isn't helping, we recommend that you take over-the-counter pain medications to help stop the headache. Taking these medications more than two to three days per week will put you at risk for medication overuse, which causes rebound headaches. Learn more about medication overuse.

 

Here are a few common examples of OTC rescue medications:

• Tylenol (acetaminophen)

• Excedrin Migraine (acetaminophen, aspirin*, caffeine)

• Advil, Motrin (ibuprofen*)

• Aleve (Naproxen*)

• Aspirin*

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*Indicates non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). If you're prone to gastric upset or heartburn, consider taking an over-the-counter antacid (Pepcid, Tums, Gaviscon, etc.) and discuss with your primary care doctor. If you have a history of kidney issues, please talk to your primary care doctor before starting. ​

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Prescription Rescue Medications

 

When headaches don't respond to over-the-counter pain medications, your physician may prescribe you medications such as triptans or CGRP antagonists to help stop headaches when they come on.

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• Triptans are a family of medicines that have been available for more than 40 years and revolutionized headache care.

  • These medications are considered first-line rescue medications to stop a headache.

  • These types of medications aren't given to patients with a history of stroke or heart attack.

  • Common examples: sumatriptan (Imitrex), rizatriptan (Maxalt),  sumatriptan/naproxen (Treximet), eletriptan (Relpax), frovatriptan succinate (Frova), zolmitriptan (Zomig), naratriptan (Amerge) and almotriptan (Axert).

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• Calcitonin G-related peptide (CGRP) antagonists are newer medications that help with stopping a migraine attack.

  • CGRP medications work to inhibit a protein in your brain that's responsible for initiating pain signals when you have a headache.

    • ​These medications do not cause rebound headaches linked to medication overuse. ​

    • Learn more about CGRP antagonist and their mechanism.

  • ​These medicines are increasingly used for patients who don't benefit from triptans, and can also be given to people with a history of stroke or heart attack.

  • Common examples: rimegepant (Nurtec), atogepant (Qulipta), lasmiditan (Reyvow) and zavegepant (Zavzpret).

 

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Devices for Stopping Headaches

 

If you're looking for additional aids to help stop your headaches that don't involve medication, a device might be for you. A device can be used in conjunction with headache medication. 

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• Migraine Treatment Devices

  • Cefaly and HeadaTerm 2 are devices FDA approved for migraine treatment.

    • Both devices are non-invasive and non-pharmacologic (drug-free) methods for treating headaches.

    • These devices do not require a prescription from a provider and can be purchased using a Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flexible Spending Account (FSA).

  • These devices use electrical impulses as a way to treat headaches.

    • The devices use an adhesive to temporarily stick to your forehead and deliver a sensation that is often described as a massage. 

    • People typically use these for one to two hours per day either to treat or prevent headaches.

  • Trying Cefaly

    • These devices typically cost about $400*, which we understand isn't accessible for everyone.

    • If you decide you might like to try Cefaly, we recommend you purchase it at CEFALY.com due to their generous return policy. You can return the device within 90 days of purchase for a refund*.

      • It's safest to confirm this return policy with the vendor before purchasing.​​​​​​​

  • Trying HeadaTerm 2

    • This device costs about $100* and has a 30 day money back guarantee* if you purchase from Emeterm.com

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