title: Acute treatment of migraine.
abstract: Acute treatment of migraine has benefited first from major advances in pharmacological science followed in short order, sometimes preceded, by an improved understanding of pathogenesis, especially of headache. This chapter reviews the mechanisms of migraine that provide an understanding of the pharmacology and therapeutic targets for acute migraine medications. General clinical approaches to acute therapy are reviewed, and indices of acceptable acute therapeutic outcomes are discussed. Currently the serotonin (5-HT) 1B/1D agonist group of drugs, triptans, forms the mainstay of acute therapeutic regimens. Other approaches to acute treatment such as simple analgesics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), ergots, and combination medications are reviewed. Finally, the newest acute treatments that are currently exploratory or under clinical investigation are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville Neuroscience Group, St Thomas Health Services, Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37203, USA. jbrandes@nashvilleneuroscience.com
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Brandes
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Buchanan
authors.forename: K M A
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Welch
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D006261:Headache / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008881:Migraine Disorders; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; D014363:Tryptamines
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D017366:Serotonin Receptor Agonists; D014363:Tryptamines