Via practica 11/2005

MIGRAINE

Migraine headaches afflict approximately 6 % of men and 18 % of women and every year have high direct or indirect economic expenditures. Correct diagnosis can be made by identifying the historic and physical examination findings. Once diagnosis is made, effective therapy represent proper and adequate management of headache pain, related symptoms. Indications for prophylactic in addition to abortive therapy include the occurrence of headaches that require abortive therapy more than three times a month that do not respond well to abortive therapy, and which are particularly severe. Research is ongoing in the pathophysiology of migraines, evaluation of nonpharmacologic treatment modalities and assessment of new drug therapies.

Keywords: migraine, pathophysiology of migraine, acute therapy, prophylactic therapy.