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Is it safe to take a migraine cocktail?
Explore the medications in a migraine cocktail, what you need to consider before taking one, and safety precautions to keep in mind.
If you’ve ever had a migraine, you know how painful and disruptive it can be, making it difficult or even impossible to make it through your day. You might feel a throbbing headache, sensitivity to light and sound, nausea, and even dizziness. When over-the-counter pain relievers don’t help, many people look for something stronger—like a “migraine cocktail.” In this article, we’ll break down what’s in a migraine cocktail, when it’s used, and whether it’s the right option for you.
What is a migraine cocktail?
A migraine cocktail is a mix of medications used to treat a migraine attack. It's not a fancy drink — it’s just a nickname for combining drugs that work together to relieve migraine symptoms. Migraines are complicated, and sometimes, using multiple medications can help to target both causes and symptoms to help you find relief.
Migraine cocktails are often given in emergency rooms or urgent care clinics to people with severe, long-lasting, or treatment-resistant migraines. Sometimes, people create their own version at home using over-the-counter medications.
Migraine cocktails can work to:
- Stop the migraine pain
- Relieve nausea or vomiting
- Reduce inflammation
- Rehydrate the body
Depending on where you receive the treatment (hospital, clinic, or at home), the combination and dosage of your migraine cocktail can vary. Pro tip: if you find a migraine cocktail that works well for you, be sure to write down the medications and dosages, and carry it with you in your wallet or purse. If you get a migraine attack when you're out of town, this can help emergency room staff members provide the treatment you need without guessing what dosage of medications will work best for your unique treatment needs.
Are migraine cocktails safe?
Migraine cocktails can be very effective, but safety depends on a few things:
- Where you get the cocktail (ER vs. at home)
- The drugs included in the cocktail
- Your personal health history
- Other medications you’re taking
When given by a doctor or nurse in the emergency room, migraine cocktails are generally safe and closely monitored. Medical professionals check your vitals, watch for side effects, and adjust medications if needed. This is the safest way to receive a cocktail, especially if you’ve never had one before.
People sometimes try at-home versions using over-the-counter drugs like Excedrin or combinations of pain relievers and anti-nausea medicine. While this may work for some, mixing medications on your own can carry risks, especially if you:
- Take more than the recommended dose
- Mix drugs that shouldn’t be combined
- Have liver or kidney issues
- Are pregnant or nursing
- Take prescription medications
So, while migraine cocktails can be safe, it’s important to talk to your doctor first, especially if you're planning to mix medications at home.
Emergency room migraine cocktail components
Let’s look at what’s usually in a hospital-grade migraine cocktail. These medications work together to relieve migraine symptoms quickly and effectively.
Triptans
Triptans are prescription drugs designed to stop migraines once they’ve started. They work by narrowing blood vessels in the brain and blocking pain pathways.
Common triptans include:
- Sumatriptan (Imitrex)
- Rizatriptan (Maxalt)
- Zolmitriptan (Zomig)
Triptans are generally safe, but not for everyone. They can raise blood pressure and may not be suitable for people with heart disease, stroke risk, or certain circulation problems.
Antiemetics (Anti-Nausea Medications)
Migraines often come with nausea or vomiting. Antiemetics help control these symptoms. Some also reduce migraine pain and improve how well other drugs work.
Common antiemetics include:
- Metoclopramide (Reglan)
- Prochlorperazine (Compazine)
- Ondansetron (Zofran)
These drugs are usually safe, but they can cause side effects like drowsiness or restlessness. In rare cases, people may have muscle spasms or allergic reactions.
NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs)
NSAIDs help reduce pain and inflammation, and are identical or similar to drugs that you would purchase for pain relief over the counter at a drugstore.
NSAIDs commonly used in migraine cocktails include:
- Ketorolac (Toradol)
- Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)
- Naproxen (Aleve)
NSAIDs are effective, but using them too often or at high doses can cause stomach ulcers, kidney problems, and an increased risk of problematic bleeding. If you have a history of ulcers, bleeding issues, or kidney disease, your doctor might avoid using NSAIDs.
Magnesium
Magnesium sulfate is sometimes added to migraine cocktails, especially for people with menstrual migraines or migraines with aura. Magnesium is a mineral that helps relax blood vessels and reduce brain inflammation.
It’s usually given by IV and has very few side effects. Some people may feel flushed or warm during the infusion, but this goes away quickly. Magnesium is considered safe and well-tolerated by most people.
IV Fluids
Migraines can dehydrate you, especially if you’ve been vomiting. IV fluids help rehydrate the body and support better absorption of medications.
There are no risks to IV fluids for most people unless you have certain heart or kidney conditions that affect fluid balance. In those cases, your medical team will adjust the amount given.
Over-the-counter migraine cocktails
Not everyone goes to the ER for migraine relief. Some people use over-the-counter (OTC) drugs to make their own migraine cocktail at home. Excedrin Migraine is one of the most commonly used medications in OTC migraine cocktails.
What’s in Excedrin?
Excedrin Migraine contains:
- Aspirin (250 mg) – an NSAID that reduces pain and inflammation
- Acetaminophen (250 mg) – a pain reliever
- Caffeine (65 mg) – helps medications work faster and constricts blood vessels in the brain
This combo is FDA-approved for treating migraines and works well for many people when taken at the first sign of a migraine.
Is Excedrin Safe?
Yes, but only when used correctly.
Taking too much can lead to serious health problems, including:
- Liver damage (from too much acetaminophen)
- Stomach bleeding (from too much aspirin)
- Increased heart rate, anxiety, or insomnia (from too much caffeine)
To stay safe:
- Don’t take more than the label recommends
- Avoid mixing with other meds that contain aspirin, acetaminophen, or caffeine
- Don’t drink alcohol when using it
- Talk to your doctor if you’re on blood thinners, have liver issues, or are pregnant
Other OTC Options
Some people make their own cocktail using:
- Ibuprofen (Advil) or naproxen (Aleve)
- Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
- Caffeine pills or a strong cup of coffee
This can be helpful if you don't have Excedrin or can’t tolerate aspirin. Still, it’s best to ask a healthcare provider before trying this mix, especially if you’re unsure about dosing or safety.
Safety tips for taking a migraine cocktail
Whether you’re in the ER or at home, here are some general safety tips to keep in mind:
- Know your medications: Always check the labels of what you're taking. Many OTC and prescription drugs contain similar ingredients, especially acetaminophen or NSAIDs, and taking more than one product can easily lead to an overdose.
- Stick to the recommended dosage: Taking more won’t make the pain go away faster—it will only increase your risk of side effects or serious complications.
- Avoid frequent use: Migraine cocktails aren’t meant for daily use. Using them too often can lead to rebound headaches, also known as medication overuse headaches. This means the drugs can actually make your migraines worse over time.
- Talk to a doctor first: If you get frequent or severe migraines, you might need preventive treatment. A doctor can help create a safer, long-term plan. You might also need testing to rule out other medical problems.
- Watch for side effects: Even safe medications can cause problems in some people. Call a doctor or go to the ER if you notice trouble breathing, chest pain, severe dizziness, confusion, uncontrolled vomiting, or signs of an allergic reaction.
Download Evidation and start using MigraineSmart today
Migraines can make it tough to enjoy your day-to-day life. Understanding your triggers and tracking your symptoms can help you better understand the causes of your migraines, allowing you to lessen the frequency and severity of attacks. When you download the Evidation app, you'll be able to share the health-related data you're already tracking. We'll use this information to provide you with personalized insights that can help you better understand health issues, allowing you to take steps that can help you become your happiest, healthiest self.
You'll also gain access to our MigraineSmart tool, which will allow you to track symptoms and identify triggers, providing valuable information to both you and your healthcare provider that can help you manage migraines. Click here to learn more about Evidation and MigraineSmart and get started today.
Can sleep patterns tell us the severity of our anxiety or depression?
Depression and anxiety can have a huge impact on our daily lives and overall health. It can affect our mood, social interactions, sleep and more, but can our daily behaviors predict the severity of our anxiety and depression? Our research team sought to find out more.
We know that anxiety and depression affect many of you, with 7 out of 10 adults in the U.S. saying they experience stress or anxiety daily. Depression and anxiety can have a huge impact on our daily lives and overall health. It can affect our mood, social interactions, sleep and more, but can our daily behaviors predict the severity of our anxiety and depression? Our research team sought to find out more.
What we tested
We enrolled over 1,000 participants in a clinical study with self-reported anxiety and depression and assessed the participants’ mental health states by looking at the following for each individual:
- Anxiety and depression symptoms
- Number of hospitalizations and ER visits for anxiety/depression
- Use of anxiety and depression medications
We then looked at participants’ sleep metrics and patterns for the previous three months.
What we learned
Severe depression was significantly associated with inconsistent and disordered sleep patterns, such as spending a great amount of time in bed awake. Individuals taking medications for their anxiety and/or depression were likely to sleep more compared to those not receiving treatment, however, they also had inconsistent sleep patterns. Participants who had been previously hospitalized for anxiety and/or depression were more likely to have inconsistent sleep patterns as well.
What does this mean?
We all know that a lack of sleep can affect our daily lives, but it can also be associated with severe depression and anxiety. This means that certain sleep patterns might be able to predict the severity of an individual’s mental well-being in the future. With further research we’d like to understand if tracking sleep behavior could predict changes in the severity of an individual’s mental health condition.
Thanks to all of our members who participated in this research about how daily behaviors, like sleep, can tell help researchers to better understand anxiety and depression. If you’re interested in contributing to innovative research, we are regularly running new studies at Evidation.
3 Reasons Why Tracking Your Health Can Help You Participate in Better Health Outcomes
Here are the top three reasons why tracking your health with Evidation will help you be part of something just a little bit bigger than yourself this holiday season.
According to 2015 Pew Research, “one in three cell phone owners have used their phone to look for health information.” Four years ago, we started Evidation to help everyone understand their personal health, take control of their health journey, and help contribute to improving the health of everyone. Here are the top three reasons why tracking your health with Evidation will help you be part of something just a little bit bigger than yourself this holiday season.
1. Actively participate in your health
With the over 30+ apps that you can connect to Evidation, we’re able to look at patterns of activity levels and do a deep dive into tracking health and wellness. We’ve published research around how your social engagements can impact activity levels. Lastly, we’ve given our community a chance to learn from each other, asking communities of individuals what questions they have for one another and sharing back the results.
2. Learn about health and research through insights
With a community of over a million, we’re constantly looking for opportunities to highlight and share relevant research tailored to you. We’ve also done deep dives on seasonal trends over the last year, including a step analysis around the Pokemon Go phenomenon, the difference between men and women during Back to School, and a look across the United States at Halloween calorie count.
3. Participate in ground-breaking research to advance the health of everyone
We’re focused on building a product that makes your interactions with health unified. We believe that health is much more than a visit to the doctor. It’s a constant effort every day of how to track/monitor healthy activities — whether it be steps taken, heart rate monitored, sleep tracked, or even meditation sessions executed. Sign up for Evidation today and starting taking health-related actions, including contributing to cutting-edge clinical studies that are tailored to your specific health conditions.
Dads vs. Moms: How does the transition from summer to fall impact activity levels?
The change in seasons often brings with it a change in routine. We wanted to know how the transition from summer to fall affects our health and wellness, and we’re excited to share these insights from members.
The change in seasons often brings with it a change in routine. So we wanted to know how the transition from summer to fall affects our health and wellness, and we’re excited to share these insights from Evidation Members.
The transition to fall can be especially cumbersome for parents as they juggle back to school duties, but is one parent more impacted than the other by the changing season? We decided to take a closer look at how moms and dads health holds up during the seasonal transition. We were also curious to explore how sleep and steps between parents and non-parents compared.
Who is catching more zzzs?
We uncovered a statistically significant gender disparity between moms and dads. Moms sleep 5 minutes less in the summer than their non-mom counterparts. As the school year ramps up in late August and early September, the difference is significantly more pronounced on weekdays. Moms sleep 10 minutes less than their non-mom counterparts. Dads, on the other hand, show no consistent differences from their counterparts in summer or fall. If anything, they may sleep slightly more.
Moms are also taking a bigger hit in sleep interruption than Dads. Moms sleep 0.34% less than non-moms and 1.4% less than dads. Surprisingly though, non-dads have the most sleep interruptions, spending 8.3% of the night awake.
What time is everyone falling asleep?
Moms fall asleep 12 minutes earlier than non-moms, while dads fall asleep 24 minutes earlier than non-dads. So, while dads don’t seem to be sleeping any less if they are a parent, they appear to be shifting their sleep schedules more. Interestingly, all four groups shift their bedtimes earlier in fall, possibly due to earlier sunsets.
Who is taking more steps?
Moms take fewer steps than non-moms in general. During the summer, moms take 427 fewer steps/day on weekends and 243 fewer steps/day on weekdays. However, when the school year starts, their weekends show an even larger deficit, at 543 fewer steps/day vs non-moms. Their weekdays step counts improve markedly, though, at just 85 fewer steps/day than non-moms.
Dads show the opposite pattern. They actually take more steps than non-dads. In the summer, they have an average of 250 steps/day more than non-dads, while in the fall, they have an average of 348 steps/day more than non-dads.