What should I know about the specific type of preventive headache medication I'm taking?
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- What triggers a headache?
- What are the different types of headaches?
There are several types of preventive
medications used for headache treatment. Ask your doctor
what type of medication he or she is considering for you.
In the chart below, you can find
out brand medications and their generic counterparts.
Types of Preventive Medications
Below is a list of some of the preventive
medications your doctor may ask you to try.
Beta-Blockers
brand
generic
Betachron E.R., Inderal, Inderal LA
propranolol hydrochloride
Blocadren
timolol maleate
Corgard
nadolol
Lopressor, Toprol XL
metoprolol tartrate, metoprolol
succinate
Tenormin
atenolol
Calcium channel blockers
brand
generic
Calan, Calan SR, Isoptin, Isoptin SR, Verelan,
Verelan PM
verapamil hydrochloride
Cardizem, Cardizem CD, Cardizem SR, Dilacor XR,
Tiazac
diltiazem hydrochloride
Cardene
nicardipine
NSAIDs
brand
generic
Orudis, Orudis KT, Oruvail
ketoprofen
Advil, Midol IB, Motrin, Motrin IB,
Nuprin
ibuprofen
Ansaid
flurbiprofen
Ponstel
mefenamic acid
Aleve, Anaprox, Anaprox DS, Naprelan, Naprosyn,
EC-Naprosyn
naproxen sodium
Aspirin, Aspergum, Ecotrin, Empirin, Genprin,
ZORprin
acetylsalicylic acid
Bufferin, Tri-buffered Bufferin, Bayer,
Buffered Aspirin, Asprimox, Buffex, Adprin-B, Magnaprin,
Ascriptin, Ascriptin A/D
acetylsalicylic acid, buffered
Antidepressants
Tricyclic antidepressants brand generic Elavil amitriptyline hydrochloride Pamelor nortriptyline hydrochloride Tofranil-PM imipramine hydrochloride Vivactil protriptyline hydrochloride Sinequan, Adapin doxepin hydrochloride Norpramin desipramineSSRIs brand generic Prozac fluoxetine hydrochloride Luvox fluvoxamine hydrochloride Paxil paroxetine hydrochloride Zoloft sertraline hydrochloride
Other antidepressants brand generic Desyrel trazodone Wellbutrin, Wellbutrin SR bupropion hydrochloride Effexor, Effexor XR venlafaxine hydrochloride Remeron mirtazapine Nardil phenelzine sulfate
Other Preventive Medications
Anticonvulsants brand generic Neurontin gabapentin Gabitril Filmtabs tiagabine hydrochloride Topamax topiramate Tegretol, Tegretol XR carbamazepine Depakote divalproex sodium Depakene sodium valproateMethysergide brand generic Sansert methysergide maleate
Methylergonovine brand generic Methergine methylergonovine maleate
Lithium brand generic Eskalith lithium carbonate