Preventive treatment

If you have several very bad headaches a month, your healthcare professional may recommend taking NSAIDs or triptans before a headache begins. This may mean taking a headache medicine a few days before your period if you have regular menstrual periods. Then continue taking it during your period.

If you have migraines throughout the month, your healthcare professional may recommend that you take medicines every day. This also may be recommended if your periods aren't regular. Daily medicines might include beta blockers, antiseizure medicines, calcium channel blockers, antidepressants or magnesium.

Your healthcare professional also might recommend monthly injections of a calcitonin gene-related peptide monoclonal antibody. The injections may help prevent headaches, especially if other medicines haven't worked.

To decide which medicines may be right for you, your healthcare professional also reviews any other medical conditions you have.

Lifestyle changes also may help you have fewer headaches. These changes can shorten the headaches or help make them less painful. Lifestyle changes include reducing stress, not skipping meals and exercising regularly.