The problem of headache is common not only in India but all over the world. A study has found that triptan class drugs are more effective in treating migraine than newer and more expensive drugs. These drugs work by changing blood circulation in the brain and relieve pain by calming overactive nerves.

Nearly 90,000 participants took part in the researchers' study. An analysis published in the British Medical Journal found that elatriptan, rizatriptan, sumatriptan and zolmitriptan were better at relieving pain than more recently developed drugs -- lasmiditan, rimegepant and ubrogepant. All these drugs are marketed in India. Researchers, including those from Copenhagen University Hospital in Denmark, say there is now a clear consensus on which drugs work best in treating the neurological condition, which affects more than a billion people worldwide. Migraines are the leading cause of poor health among girls and women aged 15 to 49.

Researchers have suggested that drugs from the triptan class may be more effective in treating migraines. The researchers identified a total of 137 trials published up to June 24, 2023 for the study. When these drugs were compared with each other, elatriptan was better than almost all other drugs in providing pain relief within two hours, the authors wrote. It was followed by rizatriptan, sumatriptan, and zolmitriptan.