Hartmut Göbel

Severe migraine attacks are treated with triptans. The forms of administration of the active substances depend on the drug profile. A standard therapy does not exist. The rate of side effects is low. Triptans are contraindicated for patients with coronary, cerebral and peripheral vascular diseases. Under no circumstances are they to be combined with ergot alkaloids. Triptans are all the more effective, the earlier they are taken. For determining the optimal time point for taking the medication, the so-called triptan threshold is helpful. Triptans are not suitable for treating status migrainosus. Sumatriptan can be administered electively and in compliance with the contraindications for the emergency treatment.

Migraine prophylaxis with drugs is still an essential part of migraine therapy. This is especially true for those patients with frequent migraines who are in danger of developing drug-induced headaches. Migraine prophylaxis should be taken in consideration in patients who suffer from 7 or more migraine days per month in spite of all non-pharmacological efforts. When choosing a prophylactic drug not only efficacy but tolerability and safety for long-term intake should be considered. Prophylactic drugs used to be classified as drugs of first, second and third choice. According to this step care model treatment was started with a drug of first choice and only in case of lack of efficacy or adverse events a drug of lower choice was selected. Today, in contrast to the traditional step care a stratified care is favored. Treatment is individualized based on an assessment of the patients' medical needs, on comorbidity, the migraine phenotype and most importantly the individual situation of the patient in life. The paper gives an overview of the efficacy and tolerability of drugs used in migraine prophylaxis.

Migraine prophylaxis with drugs is still an essential part of migraine therapy. This is especially true for those patients with frequent migraines who are in danger of developing drug-induced headaches. Migraine prophylaxis should be taken in consideration in patients who suffer from 7 or more migraine days per months in spite of all non-pharmacological efforts. When choosing a prophylactic drug not only efficacy but tolerability and safety for long-term intake should be considered. Prophylactic drugs used to be classified as drugs of first, second and third choice. According to this step care model treatment was started with a drug of first choice and only in case of lack of efficacy or adverse events a drug of lower choice was selected. Today, in contrast to the traditional step care a stratified care is favored. Treatment is individualized based on an assessment of the patients' medical needs, on comorbidity, the migraine phenotype and most important the individual situation of the patient in life. The paper gives an overview of the efficacy and tolerability of drugs used in migraine prophylaxis.

At the heart of every migraine treatment concept is the management of the acute attack with effective medication. Here, the triptans have been progressively replacing the ergot alkaloids with their unsatisfactory relationship between effect and side effects. Prophylactic medication is indicated when, despite every non-pharmaceutic measure, migraine attacks occur on seven or more days in a month. The beta receptor blockers metoprolol and propranolol have so far been considered the substances of first choice, but in practice there is now a trend towards substances with a lower potential for side effects. The article provides an up-to-date overview of the efficacy and tolerability of the various migraine prophylactics.