New Prescriptions for Migraine in the Emergency Department: Treating a common affliction and presenting symptom

Migraine headache is a common affliction and presenting symptom in the emergency department. Its diagnosis is entirely clinical, and the treating physician should ensure precise diagnosis before commencing therapy. General non-pharmacological measures and oral medications are usually effective in relieving the symptoms. Occasionally, patients with fixed migraines require parenteral therapy. Some medications used for migraine are antiemetic agents, ergot preparations, narcotic agents, phenothiazines (particularly chlorpromazine), and newer selective serotonin agonists.