Ancient Egyptians spoke of painful headaches with neuralgia. According to news-medial.net migraines are among the oldest diseases known to mankind.
400 BC - Hippocrates speaks of a visual disturbances preceding the migraine.
Hippocrates referred to visual disturbances that can precede a migraine such as flashing lights or blurred vision, which is now known as an aura. He also described the relief felt by sufferers after vomiting.
2 AD - Official migraine discovery
Aretaeus of Cappadocia officially describes the one sided or unilateral headaches that are typical of migraines.
1655 - The Headache
by Robert Herrick (1591-1674)- My head doth ake, O Sappho! Take, Thy fillit, And bind the paine, Or bring some bane To kill it.
1712 -Migraine was now associated with other major types of headaches
In the "Bibliotheca Anatomica, Medic, Chirurgica" published in London, 'Migraine was described alongside other major types of headaches
1938 - The era of Ergotamine
Graham and Wolff demonstrated that the use of ergotamine caused vasoconstriction of the brain's blood vessels which temporarily relieved migraine pain. Arch NeurPsych. 1938;39(4):737- 763. doi:10.1001 /archneurpsyc. 1938.02270040093 005.
1943 - Dihydroergotamine (DHE)
Approved in the US in 1946. Ergot derivative Injectable and nasal route medication found to vasoconstrict intracranial blood vessels causing relief of headache pain. Side Effect- Nausea. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dihydroergotamine
1960 - Excedrin ES for Headaches
Bristol-Myers introduces Excedrin Extra Strength for Headaches. The first multi-ingredient formula for Headache relief - Contains 250mg acetaminophen, 250 mg aspirin, 65 mg Caffeine
1969 - Excedrin PM
It is the first combination headache and sleeping pill product. https://www.excedrin.com/about/
1990 - Triptan - Abortive Migraine Medication
Sumatriptan - Imitrex, Imigran, Cinie, Illumment, Migriptan. Triptans are usually taken as you start to feel a migraine headache develop. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triptan
1998 - Rizatriptan - Maxalt. The second generation Triptans
Merck, the owners of Maxalt reported global sales of $575 million for the full year of 2009 which was up 11% from 2008. http://www.news-medical.net
1998 - Excedrin Migraine
Introduced for the relief of migraine headache pain and associated symptoms. It is the first to be migraine headaches medication to be available without a prescription. https://www.excedrin.com/about/
2008 - Triptan - Zomig is marketed by AstraZeneca
Zolmitriptan or Zomig generates $154 million in sales. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zolmitriptan
2013 - Generic Zomig released by Impax Lab
Impax Laboratories in agreement with AstraZeneca releases generic Zomig. According to IMS U.S. sales of Zomig for 2013 was $196 million. http://investors.impaxlabs.com/Investor-Relations/default.aspx
2013 - Europe Restricts the use of medicines containing Ergot derivatives
The European Medicines Agency’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has recommended restricting the use of medicines containing ergot derivatives. These medicines should no longer be used to treat or prevent migraine headaches. http://www.ema.europa.eu/ema/