A migraine cocktail is a combination of medications that you may use at home to treat a migraine headache. This term is also used to describe combinations of medications that doctors may use to treat your migraine if you seek medical help for one of those intense headaches at a hospital.
Migraine cocktail stigma
Many doctors and people who experience migraines dislike the phrase “migraine cocktail.” According to a 2022 survey of 1,000 members of the American Migraine Foundation community, 9.87% said they found the term migraine cocktail “stigmatizing,” while 7.28% called it “demeaning.”
The reason seems to be that “cocktail” is a common term for an alcoholic beverage. Understandably, people who have migraines don’t want others to think that they drink alcohol to ease their headaches. However, “cocktail” can also be used to describe a combination of medications. It’s worth adding that nearly 40% of survey respondents said they had no problem with the term migraine cocktail.
What’s in a Migraine Cocktail?
A migraine cocktail contains medications that are intended to relieve headaches and other symptoms caused by migraines. There is no single recipe for a migraine cocktail. However, one commonly used combination of over-the-counter (OTC) medications for treating migraines contains:
- Acetaminophen (better known as Tylenol)
- Aspirin
- Caffeine
If you go to a hospital for treatment of an acute migraine, your doctor may use a different type of migraine cocktail, likely including prescription medications. If you are having a relatively mild migraine attack, doctors may try to ease your symptoms by giving you a combination of analgesics, such as NSAIDs or acetaminophen, plus a type of migraine drug called a triptan. If your migraine is more serious, your doctor may add additional medications. For a severe migraine that has lasted at least three days, doctors may try a cocktail that includes some or all of the following:
- IV fluids
- An NSAID called ketorolac (given by injection or infusion)
- A dopamine receptor blocker, such as prochlorperazine, metoclopramide, or chlorpromazine
- Valproate, which is usually used to treat convulsions
- Dihydroergotamine, a commonly used migraine drug
Doctors may also choose other combinations of migraine medications to treat your headache.
Migraine cocktail with Benadryl
If you go to a hospital for treatment of a severe headache, you may receive a migraine cocktail that contains diphenhydramine, which is the generic name for Benadryl. Doctors may add this medication because it can reduce certain side effects caused by other migraine medications. In particular, it may help prevent involuntary body movements, which can be caused by drugs called antiemetics. Some doctors think Benadryl may also help treat migraines, but that has not been proven.
Why Do People Get a Migraine Cocktail?
If you experience frequent migraine headaches, your doctor has probably prescribed medications to keep them under control and ease the pain and symptoms when one strikes. But sometimes, you may have a migraine so severe that it won’t respond to your usual pain-relieving medicine. If you have such a migraine that won’t let up, especially if it lasts three days or more, a migraine cocktail may offer relief.
Where to Go for a Migraine Cocktail
Your doctor may suggest a migraine cocktail that you can use at home. However, you may also receive a migraine cocktail if you go to a hospital for treatment of an unrelenting and severe headache. Often, that may mean going to an emergency room. However, your doctor may also give you a migraine cocktail at an outpatient infusion center or in a hospital room, if you’ve been admitted.
Over-the-Counter Migraine Cocktail
You can buy an OTC migraine cocktail at a drugstore, grocery store, or online. These products typically contain a combination of acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine. About 1 in 5 people who are having a migraine will experience complete relief of symptoms from this combination within two hours, according to a 2021 analysis. About half will experience at least a 50% reduction in symptoms within two hours.
Migraine Cocktail Alternatives
Taking steps to reduce your migraine attacks can help you avoid needing a migraine cocktail. The following can help lower the number of attacks you experience:
- If your doctor has prescribed preventive medication, take it as directed.
- Exercise regularly.
- Stick to a meal routine by eating at the same time every day.
- Stay well hydrated by drinking fluids, especially water, throughout the day.
- Get plenty of sleep and follow a routine for going to bed and waking up.
- Find a way to manage stress, which can trigger migraines, such as
Credit: webmd.com
