TREAT migraine early and effectively for best results1-3
- The best chance of alleviating symptoms
- A reduced impact on patients’ lives
When your patient comes to you with headache, remember to THINK TALK TREAT Migraine®
* Recommended medications refer to those with established/probable efficacy as identified by the AAN/AHS guidelines and the AHS position statement regarding new migraine treatments.2
The goal of acute treatment includes4:
- TREAT migraine attacks before they worsen
- Restore ability to function
The goal of preventive treatment includes5:
- Stop migraine attacks before they happen
- Reduce migraine attack frequency, severity, and duration
- Improve quality of life (eg, MSQ)
The AHS provides an evidence assessment for migraine treatment. Recommended medications supported by Level A† or B‡ evidence include2:
Acute Treatments | Preventive Treatments |
---|---|
Acute Treatments:
| Preventive Treatments:
|
† Level A: Effective based on available evidence (more than 2 Class I studies).
‡ Level B: Probably effective based on available evidence (1 Class I or 2 Class II studies).
§ For chronic migraine only.
Set realistic treatment goals, expectations, and timelines with your patients to ensure they adhere to treatment and know what to expect.2
- For example, before lack of effectiveness can be determined, prevention plans should be followed for a minimum of 3 months at a target therapeutic dose for oral treatments
Learn more about recommended treatments in the AHS consensus statement
AAN=American Academy of Neurology; AHS=American Headache Society; CGRP=calcitonin gene-related peptide; MSQ=Migraine-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire; NSAID=nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug.
References:
- Lipton RB, Dodick D, Sadovsky R, et al. A self-administered screener for migraine in primary care: The ID Migraine™ validation study. Neurology. 2003;61;375-382.
- Ailani J, Burch RC, Robbins MS; Board of Directors of the American Headache Society. The American Headache Society Consensus Statement: Update on integrating new migraine treatments into clinical practice. Headache. 2021;61(7):1021-1039. doi:10.1111/head.14153
- Buse DC, Greisman JD, Baigi K, Lipton RB. Migraine progression: a systematic review. Headache. 2019;59:306-338.
- Ong JJY, De Felice M. Migraine treatment: current acute medications and their potential mechanisms of action. Neurotherapeutics. 2018;15(2):274-290.
- Modi S, Lowder DM. Medications for migraine prophylaxis. Am Fam Physician. 2006;73(1):72-78.