Document Type

Article

Publication Date

August 2006

Comments

This article has been peer reviewed. It is the author's final version prior to publication in Trends in Pharmacological Sciences 27(8):410-415, August 2006. The published version is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tips.2006.06.003; copyright © 2006 by Elsevier Ltd.

Abstract

Migraine is a common episodic pain disorder, the treatment of which can be acute to stop an attack or preventive to reduce the frequency, duration or severity of attacks. Preventive treatment is used when attacks are frequent or disabling. Many different medication groups are used for preventive treatment, including β-blockers, antidepressants and antiepileptic drugs. Their mechanisms of action include raising the threshold to migraine activation, enhancing antinociception, inhibiting cortical spreading depression, inhibiting peripheral and central sensitization, blocking neurogenic inflammation and modulating sympathetic, parasympathetic or 5-HT tone. In this article, I review evidence of the effectiveness of migraine preventive drugs. I also discuss the setting of treatment priorities.

Download

Included in

Neurology Commons

Share

COinS