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Initial Abortive Treatments for Migraine Headache.
1Swedish Neuroscience Institute, Swedish Headache Center, 1221 Madison, Suite 1026, Seattle, WA 98104, USA. sylvia.lucas@swedish.org
Current Treatment Options in Neurology
|August 7, 2002
Summary
Optimize migraine treatment by selecting the best medication for symptom severity. Early, high-efficacy therapy is crucial for severe pain and disability, while tailored approaches prevent medication overuse and chronic daily headaches.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Migraine presents a spectrum of headache types, from mild to severe with associated symptoms.
- Effective management requires stratifying care based on pain severity and disability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To guide optimal medication selection for migraine treatment.
- To emphasize early, high-efficacy therapy for severe migraine presentations.
- To advise on managing associated symptoms and preventing medication overuse.
Main Methods:
- Review of current evidence for migraine pharmacotherapy.
- Analysis of treatment responses across different headache phenotypes.
- Guidance on medication selection based on symptom severity and associated features.
Main Results:
- Severe migraine with disability and symptoms like nausea/vomiting requires specific, high-efficacy treatments.
- Migraine-specific medications, such as triptans, are effective across various headache phenotypes.
- Proactive management of nausea/vomiting and provision of rescue medication can prevent emergency room visits.
Conclusions:
- Stratified care ensures optimal medication choice for individual migraine patients.
- Appropriate medication selection and use prevent medication overuse and the transformation into chronic daily headache.