Building a migraine toolkit for patients: successful management of migraine headache

Management of migraine headache had once been considered as one of the least satisfying conditions to treat. Fortunately, developments in our understanding of the disorder and available treatment options have revolutionized therapy and greatly improved outcomes of affected patients. Two major factors are the development of a treatment "toolkit" for patients and a mutual setting of goals by the patient and clinician. The treatment "toolkit" includes several very important elements, foremost among them is patient education. This critical component provides a logical basis of therapy by helping patients understand the disorder and aiding deployment of the toolkit. This knowledge empowers patients to optimize treatment outcome and minimize the headache-related disability that drives them to seek treatment. Setting of goals for both acute and preventive care, providing behavioral and lifestyle advice, offering appropriate medications for acute attacks and headache prevention, and incorporating strategies for effective use enhance success. Monitoring outcome can focus the management and help more patients attain effective care rapidly. Employing such an approach can turn therapy into a process that proves to be satisfying to both patient and clinician.