OBJECTIVES: The objective of the study was to analyse the cost of different anti-migraine products to determine price differences and the impact of generic prescribing. METHODS: A retrospective drug utilisation study was conducted on South African medical insurance claims data for 2011.  No clinical information was available. RESULTS: A total of 797 patients received 1583 anti-migraine products during 2011.  The majority of patients (70.14%) were females and 47.05% of patients were between 30 and 49 years old.  Only 13.96% of patients claimed their anti-migraine products from the chronic plan of their medical insurance schemes.  The average age of patients was 41.61 (SD=14.91) years, with females on average slightly older than males (41.89 years versus 40.96 years).  Clonidine was the most frequently prescribed active ingredient (accounting for 49.21% of the number of prescriptions, yet only for 25.70% of the amount claimed for anti-migraine products).  Triptans (selective serotonin (5-HT1B/1D)-receptor agonists) accounted for 27.98% of all anti-migraine prescriptions, but accounted for 45.92% of cost.  Five different triptans were prescribed.  The average cost per sumatriptan prescription was the lowest (R177.64) of all the triptans.  Sumatriptan was the only triptan with generic equivalents.  Rizatriptan was the most often prescribed triptan, accounting for 18.51% of prescribing frequency and 29.15% of the amount claimed.  Tablets and wafers were the preferred dosage forms.  Only 0.32% of prescriptions were for triptan nasal sprays and they were on average the most expensive dosage form prescribed (R428.82 per prescription). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study were in agreement with the findings of previous South African studies.  The cost saving implications of generic prescribing were clear in this study.  Migraine is an expensive condition to treat and is also affecting the economically active sector of the population.  Studies investigating the economic impact of migraine will therefore yield valuable results.