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[Managing the attacks, preventing headache. Migraine therapy in 2002].
H Göbel1, A Heinze, K Heinze-Kuhn
1Neurologisch-verhaltensmedizinische Schmerzklinik Kiel. Kiel@Schmerzklinik.de
MMW Fortschritte Der Medizin
|June 20, 2002
Summary
Triptans are replacing older migraine drugs due to better efficacy and fewer side effects. New prophylactic treatments focus on reducing side effects while managing frequent migraine attacks effectively.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Migraine treatment focuses on acute attack management and prophylaxis.
- Triptans are increasingly preferred over ergot alkaloids for acute migraine attacks due to a better effect-to-side-effect profile.
- Prophylactic treatment is considered for patients experiencing migraines on seven or more days per month despite non-pharmaceutical measures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an updated overview of migraine prophylactic treatments.
- To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of current migraine prophylactics.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on migraine prophylactic medications.
- Analysis of efficacy and tolerability data for various prophylactic agents.
Main Results:
- Triptans show improved outcomes compared to ergot alkaloids for acute migraine management.
- Beta-blockers like metoprolol and propranolol were traditional first-choice prophylactics.
- A clinical trend favors prophylactic agents with a lower side effect potential.
Conclusions:
- Optimizing acute migraine treatment with triptans is crucial.
- Selection of prophylactic migraine medications is shifting towards agents with better tolerability.
- Further research into effective and well-tolerated migraine prophylactics is ongoing.