New, more expensive migraine drugs are no more effective against the throbbing headaches than traditional painkillers, and even performed worse than an older range of treatments called triptans, said a massive global analysis Thursday.

The newer and more expensive drugs rimegepant and ubrogepant — as well as another called lasmiditan, which can have drowsy side effects – were about as effective as paracetamol and anti-inflammatory painkillers, the study said.