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Vestibular Migraine and Related Syndromes pp 29–46Cite as

Therapy of Migraine

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Abstract

Migraine therapy includes avoidance of trigger factors, non-pharmacological and complementary therapies and pharmacological therapy, i.e. symptomatic (or acute) treatment and prophylaxis (or migraine prevention). Several drugs potentially effective for both of these pharmacological approaches are available, which should be prescribed considering scientific evidence (as reported in international guidelines) as well as migraine features and personal characteristics of the individual patient. Triptans and some NSAIDS are the most useful drugs to relieve migraine attacks. Topiramate, sodium valproate/divalproex, propranolol, amitriptyline, flunarizine, and venlafaxine are among the possible choices for prophylaxis, depending on the patient’s characteristics. The main data on efficacy and tolerability of the different suggested drugs are briefly reviewed, as well as the main strategies which should inform a treatment plan in the individual migraine patient. Some notes on the treatment of paediatric migraine are included.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neurology III – Headaches and Neuroalgology Unit, Neurological Institute C. Besta IRCCS Foundation, Via Celoria 11, Milan, 20133, Italy

    Domenico D’Amico & Marcella Curone

Authors
  1. Domenico D’Amico
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  2. Marcella Curone
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Correspondence to Domenico D’Amico .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept of Neurology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy

    Bruno Colombo

  2. Dept of ENT, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy

    Roberto Teggi

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D’Amico, D., Curone, M. (2014). Therapy of Migraine. In: Colombo, B., Teggi, R. (eds) Vestibular Migraine and Related Syndromes. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-07022-3_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-07022-3_3

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-07021-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-07022-3

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