A List of 50 Uncommon PREVENTIVE Migraine Medications

Below is a list of 50 PREVENTIVE migraine medications. This list is for chronic, refractory migraine patients that have not responded to first, second, or third-line preventive medications.

Many of these medications are not well-studied for migraine, may have serious adverse effects, and/or are not well-tolerated.

The ONLY purpose of this list is to start a conversation with your neurologist about the medications below. It is possible that some of these drugs will only be prescribed at a headache center specifically for chronic, refractory cases.

Every week, we will add a description to at least one medication with the available studies. Bookmark this page and come back to it on a semi-weekly basis. After every medication on this list is described with sources, we will move on to acute migraine medications that are less commonly used.

1. Milnacipran (SNRI)
2. Venlafaxine (SNRI) - considered a 2nd line preventive, but belongs with the other SNRIs
3. Desvenlafaxine (SNRI)
4. Duloxetine (SNRI)
5. Telmisartan (ARB)
6. Methylergonovine (ergot alkaloid)
7. Lamotrigine (anticonvulsant)
8. Depakote (anticonvulsant)
9. Levetiracetam (anticonvulsant)
10. Metformin (antidiabetic, biguanide)
11. Clopidogrel (antiplatelet)
12. Memantine (NMDA receptor antagonist, antidementia)
13. Amantadine (NMDA receptor antagonist, antiviral)
14. Ketamine (NMDA receptor antagonist, general anesthetic, analgesic)
15. Mexiletine (antiarrhythmic)
16. Lidocaine (anesthetic, antiarrhythmic)
17. Bupivacaine (anesthetic)
18. Acetazolamide (carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, diuretic)
19. Haldol (1^st gen antipsychotic)
20. Haloperidol (1^st gen antipsychotic)
21. Droperidol (1^st gen antipsychotic)
22. Chlorpromazine (1^st gen antipsychotic)
23. Fluvoxamine (SSRI)
24. Fluoxetine (SSRI)
25. Buspirone (anxiolytic)
26. Flunarizine (calcium channel blocker)
27. Amlodipine (calcium channel blocker)
28. Estrogen (hormone)
29. Timolol (non-selective beta blocker)
30. Nebivolol (selective beta blocker)
31. Bisoprolol (selective beta blocker)
32. Clonidine (central alpha agonist)
33. Hydroxyzine (1^st gen antihistamine)
34. Cyproheptadine (1^st gen antihistamine)
35. Desipramine (tricyclic antidepressant)
36. Doxepin (tricyclic antidepressant)
37. Mirtazapine (tetracyclic antidepressant)
38. Clonazepam (benzodiazepine, antidepressant)
39. Phenelzine (MAOI, antidepressant)
40. Cannabidiol (cannabinoids)
41. Baclofen (muscle relaxant)
42. Low dose naltrexone (opioid antagonist)
43. Amiloride (K-sparing drug diuretic)
44. Spironolactone (K-sparing diuretic, aldosterone receptor antagonist)
45. Lisinopril (ACEi)
46. Butterbur (No)
47. ALA (No)
48. THC (only some states)
49. Psilocybin (hallucinogen, only some states)
50. CBN with melatonin