Drug Safety in Episodic Migraine Management in Adults. Part 2: Preventive Treatments.

Purpose Of Review: The aim of this review is to aid in decision-making when choosing safe and effective options for preventive migraine medications.

Recent Findings: In Part 2, we have compiled clinically relevant safety considerations for commonly used migraine prophylactic treatments. Preventive treatment of episodic migraine includes nonspecific and migraine-specific drugs.

Drug Safety in Episodic Migraine Management in Adults Part 1: Acute Treatments.

Purpose Of Review: The aim of this review is to aid in choosing safe options when assessing potential risks of acute migraine treatments based on known mechanisms of action and anticipated safety concerns.

Recent Findings: Part 1 highlights safety issues associated with commonly used medications to treat acute migraine attacks. Strategies to mitigate cardiovascular and gastrointestinal risks of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, evaluation of cardiovascular risks of triptan and ergot alkaloids, and precautions with use of antiemetics and the novel drugs gepants and ditans are discussed to help practitioners in clinical decision-making.

Migraine diagnosis and treatment: A knowledge and needs assessment of women's healthcare providers.

Background: Studies suggest that migraine is often underdiagnosed and inadequately treated in the primary care setting, despite many patients relying on their primary care provider (PCP) to manage their migraine. Many women consider their women's healthcare provider to be their PCP, yet very little is known about migraine knowledge and practice patterns in the women's healthcare setting.

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess women's healthcare providers' knowledge and needs regarding migraine diagnosis and treatment.

Primary Empty Sella.

Primary empty sella (PES) syndrome is a misnomer as it is not a syndrome but a radiological finding with possible endocrine abnormalities. No specific headache type has been shown to be caused by PES. Endocrine screening may be considered for asymptomatic persons with PES.

Current Treatment Options: Headache Related to Menopause-Diagnosis and Management.

Purpose Of Review: Menopause is a life-changing event in numerous ways. Many women with migraine hold hope that the transition to the climacteric state will coincide with a cessation or improvement of migraine. This assumption is based mainly on common lay perceptions as well as assertions from many in the healthcare community.

Inhaled drug therapy development for the treatment of migraine.

Introduction: The inhalation of substances, both medicinally and recreationally, is a commonly used method of drug administration but has been underutilized in the treatment of neurologic disorders such as migraine. Three drugs have been studied as potential inhalable treatments for acute migraine: dihydroergotamine (MAP0004), prochlorperazine (Staccato prochlorperazine), and loxapine (Staccato loxapine).

Areas Covered: This review discusses the available literature describing the pharmacokinetics, tolerability and efficacy of MAP0004, Staccato prochlorperazine and Staccato loxapine, including data from Phase II and Phase III clinical trials.

Ice Pick Headache.

Ice pick headache, also called idiopathic or primary stabbing headache, is a unique headache type associated with ultra-brief stabs of pain, most commonly in the frontal or temporal area. It occurs predominantly in women and is estimated to affect 2-35% of the population. Unlike other headache types of short duration, such as short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache with conjunctival injection and tearing (SUNCT), ice pick headache is not associated with any cranial autonomic symptoms but has been known to occur with nausea, vomiting, photophobia, and dizziness.