Choosing to take your prescribed acute migraine medication might not be your first approach to managing life with migraine. Your medications may have unwanted side effects or interfere with your daily routine. If you relate to this sentiment, you’re not alone. In a 2003 survey, around 67 percent of people with migraine reported delaying or avoiding taking their prescription acute medications due to concerns about adverse effects or side effects.¹

If you have hesitated to take your acute migraine medication or chosen not to take it altogether, there are some important facts you should know. This article will cover the basics. It’s important to voice any questions or concerns you have about your migraine medication to your health care provider. They can help explain major factors about acute migraine medications, such as their risks and benefits, how they work, and what you can expect when taking them.

1. Choosing Not To Take Acute Medication May Worsen Your Migraine Symptoms

Health care providers prescribe different types of acute medications for migraine.² Acute migraine medications are meant to be taken during a migraine attack and help lessen symptoms like pain, nausea, and sensitivity to sound and light.³ If you avoid or delay using your acute migraine medication, your migraine symptoms may get worse.

A 2003 survey found that among people who delayed or avoided using migraine medication, 60 percent had more severe migraine pain.¹ For 59 percent, migraine headaches lasted longer.¹ These impacts varied based on the severity of migraine and the type of acute migraine medication used.¹

Furthermore, if you get medication overuse headaches — sometimes called rebound headaches — from overusing pain-relieving or acute migraine medications, abruptly stopping your medication may cause symptoms like headache pain.⁴ You could also experience a withdrawal period, with symptoms like sweating, nausea, and diarrhea.⁴ Consult a health care professional for guidance if you think you have medication overuse headaches.⁴

2. Choosing Not to Take Acute Migraine Medication May Make Daily Activities More Difficult

Delaying or avoiding use of an acute migraine medication may affect your daily life. The survey mentioned previously found that people who avoided or delayed using migraine medication experienced effects beyond the physical symptoms — 59 percent reported the need to lie down, and 26 percent said they had to cancel social activities.¹ They also reported effects on school or work, with 25 percent reporting worse performance at school or work and 21 percent saying they needed to miss work.¹

You’re likely already familiar with the ways migraine affects your daily life and well-being. Since avoiding acute medications may contribute to these issues, talk to your health care provider about medication changes that can help you better stick with your treatment plan. Acute migraine medication is meant to help stop migraine attacks and get you back to your normal activities.⁵

3. People Stop Using Acute Migraine Medication for Several Reasons

A 2019 study looked at why people stopped taking acute treatments for migraine.⁵ The researchers found that 35 percent of people who had tried acute prescription migraine medications had stopped using them.⁵ The main reason was a switch to over-the-counter or alternative treatments.⁵ Other common reasons included concerns about efficacy (how well the medication worked), tolerability (side effects), safety (drug interactions), and financial costs.⁵

The 2003 survey found that people delayed taking medication during a migraine attack because they had a limited number of pills, trouble accessing their medication, difficulty functioning, or worries about side effects.¹

If you hesitate or avoid using your acute migraine medication for any reason, talk to a health care provider about your options. They can help you understand what to expect and make suggestions if your current prescription medication isn’t working or is causing side effects. More migraine treatment options are available now than ever before. Work with your health care provider to find one that may help meet your treatment goals and minimize side effects. If you’re facing financial barriers to taking a prescribed acute medication, ask about patient savings programs and generic medication options.