[Serotonin agonists and antagonists in migraine]

Serotonin agonists (for the acute treatment of attacks) and antagonists (for prophylactic treatment) are the most widely used drugs to treat migraine. However, their effectiveness is not complete and their use is limited by side effects. The activity and presumptive mode of action of these drugs provide support for the role of serotonin in the pathophysiology of migraine and suggest that the trigeminal-vascular system is at the center of the attack; however, other factors and mechanisms may also be involved.