Which medication would you administer for abortive treatment of migraines?

• A. Acetaminophen
• B. Sumatriptan
• C. Ibuprofen
• D. Naproxen

Answer: (B)

Abortive treatment for migraines aims to stop the attack once it starts. The best choice here targets the migraine mechanism directly. Sumatriptan is a selective 5-HT1B/1D receptor agonist that constricts cranial blood vessels and reduces the release of inflammatory neuropeptides in the trigeminovascular system. This combination quickly lowers pain and associated symptoms like nausea and sensitivity to light or sound, making it a highly effective option for moderate to severe migraines. It often works faster and more reliably than non-specific analgesics. It can be used with NSAIDs for even better relief, but it should be avoided in people with significant cardiovascular risk or uncontrolled hypertension because of its vasoconstrictive action. While acetaminophen and NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen) can help, they are generally less effective for aborting an acute migraine attack compared with sumatriptan.