Abstract

Triptans have been suggested as standard acute medication of migraine, but triptan-users are still a few among the patient with migraine. The many migrainers obtained their headache relief with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), acetaminophen, over the counter drugs(OTCs), ergotamine agents, and et cetera. The main causes of these trends are lack of experience, broad contraindication, high cost, and insufficient efficacy of triptans in some patients. Additionally, these other drugs have some strength in acute treatment of migraine. For example, NSAIDs can use by the patients combined with other headache, OTCs have good accessibility, ergotamine has long half life, and dopamine-antagonist has high efficacy in nausea. Overuses of these medications induce loss of their efficacy, addition, and eventually drug-overuse headache, so the limitation of its usage per day, week, and month is essential. Finally the guidance of physician could not be overemphasized in acute treatment of migraine from the patient with mild episodic migraine to those with chronic daily headache or severe migraine.