Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 23, 2026
10:39
3D-Neuronavigation In Vivo Through a Patient's Brain During a Spontaneous Migraine Headache
Published on: June 2, 2014
Treating pediatric migraine: an expert opinion
Hope L O'Brien1, Marielle A Kabbouche, Andrew D Hershey
1Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA.
Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy
|April 17, 2012
Summary
Effective pediatric migraine treatment involves acute and preventative strategies. For acute attacks, ibuprofen or acetaminophen are recommended, with triptans for severe cases. Preventative options include cyproheptadine, amitriptyline, topiramate, and divalproate.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Adolescent Medicine
- Headache Medicine
Background:
- Migraine affects approximately 8% of children and adolescents.
- Diagnostic criteria for pediatric migraine are evolving, potentially increasing diagnoses.
- Effective management of acute migraine is crucial for this population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current treatment options for pediatric and adolescent migraine.
- To explore the rationale behind commonly used migraine therapies in young patients.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing studies on pediatric migraine treatment.
- Analysis of pharmacologic and behavioral interventions for migraine in children and adolescents.
Main Results:
- For mild to severe acute migraine, ibuprofen or acetaminophen are recommended.
- Triptan or combination NSAID/triptan therapy is advised for moderate to severe or refractory headaches.
- Preventative options include cyproheptadine (for younger children), amitriptyline, topiramate, and divalproate, chosen based on patient factors.
Conclusions:
- Ibuprofen and acetaminophen are first-line acute treatments for pediatric migraine.
- Triptans offer effective options for more severe or persistent migraine attacks.
- Several well-established medications exist for migraine prevention in children and adolescents, with tailored choices based on individual needs.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion
In pediatric medicine, understanding the renal function and drug elimination nuances is crucial for administering safe and effective treatments. Newborns, in particular, display markedly slower renal functions than adults, profoundly affecting how drugs are cleared from their bodies. This slower drug clearance requires clinicians to extend the dosing intervals for many medications to prevent drug accumulation and toxicity while ensuring therapeutic efficacy.One key area where these adjustments...
01:26Pharmaceutical Poisoning: Treatment Strategies
Treatment strategies for poisoning are a critical aspect of emergency medicine, focusing on preventing the absorption of toxins and enhancing their elimination. When a poisoning incident occurs, the first response is to halt exposure and decontaminate the patient, particularly through gastrointestinal (GI) methods if the poison was ingested.Gastrointestinal Decontamination Techniques:Activated charcoal is the cornerstone of GI decontamination. It works through adsorption, binding the toxin to...
01:23Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption
Understanding the physiological differences in the pediatric population is crucial for effective pharmacotherapy. Neonates, infants, and children exhibit significant variations in gastric pH, gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, and biliary function. These variations profoundly affect oral drug absorption, necessitating a nuanced approach to pediatric dosing.Neonates present with a unique physiological profile, having a gastric pH greater than 4 and faster and more irregular gastric...
01:24Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism
In pediatric care, understanding the nuances of hepatic drug metabolism is crucial, as it significantly differs from that of adults. This divergence is primarily due to the developmental stage of drug-metabolizing enzymes, which affects how medications are processed in the body. In neonates, for instance, the activity of Phase I enzymes—critical for the initial breakdown of drugs—is markedly reduced, functioning at just 20–40% of the levels seen in adults. This reduction poses a challenge in...
01:29Drug Dosing: Infants and Children
Pediatric patient dosages diverge from adults due to disparities in body surface area, total body water, and extracellular fluid per kilogram of body weight. The dosing regimen considers the variations in pharmacokinetics and pharmacology across distinct age groups, encompassing preterm newborns, infants, young children, older children, and adolescents. Calculation of pediatric patient doses is predicated on determining body surface area, which exhibits a superior correlation with the child's...
01:17Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution
Drug distribution in the pediatric population exhibits unique challenges and considerations due to the physiological differences between children, particularly neonates and infants, and adults. A crucial aspect of pediatric pharmacology is understanding how these differences impact the pharmacokinetics of various drugs, necessitating age-specific dosing strategies to ensure efficacy and safety.Neonates and infants have a higher total body water content, ~75%–90% of their body weight, compared...