Chapter 2 - Migraine

Summary

This chapter presents information on the background, diagnosis, clinical features, pathophysiology, forms, and precipitating factors of migraine. There are three major approaches to the treatment of migraines. It is often useful to view a migraine as a low threshold for the development of headache. There are three major approaches to the treatment of migraines: non-medication therapies; acute treatment; preventive treatment. Evidence-based guidelines support the use of cognitive behavior therapy. Most preventive agents for migraine are associated with weight gain, and this side effect, along with memory loss and depression, are the most common reasons for rejecting a particular agent. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States issued an alert in 2006 that there would be a life-threatening risk when triptans were used in individuals taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and selective serotonin/norepinephrine inhibitors.