Migraine Drugs Market Research Report: By Type (Episodic Migraine, Chronic Migraine), By Treatment Type (Acute, Preventive, Neuromodulation Devices), By Drug Class (Triptans, Betablockers, Angiotensin Blockers, Tricyclics, Anticonvulsants) and By End-User (Hospitals and Clinics, Retail Pharmacy, Online Pharmacy, Others) – Forecast to 2030

Migraine Drugs Market Overview

Migraine Drugs Market is projected to reach USD 6986.02 million at a CAGR of 3.65% by 2030, says Market Research Future (MRFR) . Migraine is a medical ailment that is characterized by severe headaches and other symptoms such as nausea and hypersensitivity to smell. These headaches often affect only one side of the head, and each migraine episode is unique in terms of duration and intensity. Migraine medications are used to treat headaches linked with migraine.

For many years, the market for prescription acute and preventive migraine therapies has been stable — and primarily generic — but is now ready for change. The increasing prevalence of migraine fuels the demand for migraine medications. Seven or more of these high-cost, creative new medications target calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), a critical pathogenic component in migraine and a long-desired, but previously elusive, therapeutic target. These are the first new migraine-specific medication classes to be introduced in almost two decades. Additionally, the growing female population and increased awareness among patients regarding migraine prevention and treatment are major drivers driving the market's growth.

However, the adverse effects associated with migraine medications act as a restraint on the market's expansion. On the contrary, the emergence of growth potential in emerging economies is projected to open up new avenues for significant participants. Additionally, hormonal drugs such as oral contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy may exacerbate migraine symptoms in females. As a result, the growing worldwide female population is expected to fuel the expansion of the migraine medications market.

Migraine Drugs Market Influencer

The increasing prevalence of migraine is expected to contribute to the growth of the migraine drugs market during the forecast period.

Market Drivers

• Increasing prevalence of migraine worldwide. As of January 2019, 2.9% of the deaths occurred due to migraine worldwide.


• Rapidly changing lifestyle


• Growing awareness programs regarding the prevention and treatment of migraine


• Rising R&D investment for the development of innovative drugs for the treatment of migraine


• Increased uptake of novel drug classes and the introduction of peptide-based therapies for the treatment of migraine

Market Restraints

• Stringent government regulations


• High investment required for drug research and development


• Side-effects of medications prescribed for migraine

Migraine Drugs Market Segmentation

By Type

• Episodic Migraine: It is characterized by patients with migraine who have 0 to 14 headache days per month. This segment holds the highest share in the migraine drugs market.


• Chronic Migraine: It is characterized by patients with migraine who have 15 or more headache days per month. This segment is expected to grow faster during the forecast period. Chronic migraine affected approximately 2% of the global population.

By Treatment type

• Acute: It is the largest segment. It represents approximately 90% of the share in the Migraine Drugs Market. This segment is expected to register a CAGR of 6.1% during the forecast period. All the patients suffering from migraine require acute therapy, regardless of whether they are also treated with preventative therapy. In addition to this, acute treatments are also used in combination with preventive treatments. Major companies in the migraine drugs market are conducting R&D of novel acute therapeutics, and it is expected that 5 to 8 major drugs will be launched that will boost the market during the forecast period.


• Preventive: It is the second-largest segment in the market. It holds 8% share in the migraine drugs market. Preventative treatments reduce frequency and disability of migraine. The major drugs classes included in preventive treatments are beta-blockers, botulin toxins, and topiramate.


• Neuromodulation Devices: It is the fastest segment in the market. It holds approximately 2% share in the market. There are three major FDA approved neuromodulation devices for the treatment of migraine in the US migraine drugs market.  

By Drug Class

• Triptans: It holds the highest share in the migraine drugs market. It is used in the acute treatment of migraine.


• Betablockers: These are majorly used in the preventive migraine therapeutics.


• Angiotensin Blockers: These are used as preventive headache treatments for chronic migraine.


• Tricyclics: These are used as preventive headache treatments for chronic migraine. Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) are the first agents shown to be effective in the prophylaxis of migraine.


• Anticonvulsants: These drugs prevent seizures, headaches, and acute migraines. Topiramate (Qudexy XR, Topamax) and valproic acid (Depakene, Depakote) anticonvulsants are used for the treatment of acute migraine

By End-User

• Hospitals and Clinics: The largest segment. Hospitals and clinics are the primary points of care for the treatment of migraine. Rising prevalence of migraine is expected to drive the market growth.


• Retail Pharmacy: It is the second largest segment and provides prescribed migraine drugs for chronic migraine conditions and over the counter migraine drugs for acute migraine conditions.


• Online Pharmacy: It is the fastest-growing segment which provides migraine drugs through e-commerce platforms. The drug class majorly offered by online pharmacy chains are for acute migraine treatment


• Others: This segment includes centers for home care and elderly population.

By Region

• Americas: The largest regional migraine drugs market. The prevalence of migraine is high in the Americas. Approximately, 12% of the US population including 18% of women, 6% of men, and 10% of the children were suffering from different types of migraines in the US as of December 2018. Moreover, the healthcare infrastructure in the Americas is also developed, which contributes to market growth. Furthermore, major pharmaceutical companies such as Pfizer Inc. and Alder Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. are headquartered in the US, which positively contributes to the growth of the migraine drugs market in the Americas.

• Europe: An increasing prevalence of neurological diseases including migraine in major countries such as the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and Russia, increasing healthcare expenditure, availability of funds for research, and rising R&D investment for the development of innovative drugs for migraine are anticipated to drive the market growth in Europe. Approximately 1 in 7 people in the UK experience migraine. It also stated that there are around 190,000 migraine attacks in the UK as of December 2018.

• Asia-Pacific: The fastest-growing regional migraine drugs market. Asia-Pacific is seeing a surge in the number of people suffering from migraine. Moreover, government and non-government organizations are conducting awareness programs for migraine, which is expected to drive the market growth.

• Middle East & Africa: The market is expected to show significant growth due to the rising patient population suffering from migraine. The market in the Middle East is expected to show more growth as compared to the African market owing to fast-developing healthcare facilities in the Middle Eastern countries such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Oman.

Migraine Drugs Market Key Players

• Allergan Plc (Ireland)


• Alder Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. (US)


• Pfizer Inc. (US)


• GlaxoSmithKline Plc (UK)


• Merck & Co., Inc. (US)


• Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd (Israel)


• AstraZeneca PLC (UK)


• Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc. (US)


• Amgen Inc. (US)


• Eli Lilly and Company


• eNeura Inc.

Industry Updates

February 2022: Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding Company Ltd. and Pfizer Inc. published good top-line results from a Phase 3 clinical trial in 1,431 adults in Asia-Pacific evaluating rimegepant for the immediate treatment of migraine. The randomized, regional, multi-center research, led by BioShin Limited, a subsidiary of Biohaven in China and South Korea, fulfilled the co-primary endpoints evaluating the efficacy and safety of rimegepant, an oral calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonist.