Skip to main content

Prophylaxis of Migraine Protocols and Options

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Migraine

Abstract

Migraine prophylaxis is an important part of the treatment algorithm for migraine disease therapy. Prophylaxis of episodic migraine may lead to decreased frequency, severity, and distress which will prevent interruptions to daily living and reduce visits to outpatient clinics, emergency settings, and in turn increases utilization of health care dollars. Prevention of acute migraine may also lead to the prevention of chronic migraine as well as increasing quality of life. Indications for prophylaxis, in general, include multiple headaches a month, debilitating headaches, medication-overuse headaches, and interruptions to daily living. Identifying environmental, dietary, and behavioral triggers are a useful first-line approach to prophylaxis, followed by utilizing over-the-counter medications, prescription medications, novel pharmacologic treatments, nonpharmacologic therapies, alternative therapies (acupuncture, massage, nutrition), and neuromodulation which may all help with migraine prophylaxis. Even with multiple therapies, treatment options are often complex.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 89.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Smitherman TA, Burch R, Sheikh H, Loder E. The prevalence, impact, and treatment of migraine and severe headaches in the United States: a review of statistics from national surveillance studies. Headache. 2013;53:427–36.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Burch R, Rizzoli P, Loder E. The prevalence and impact of migraine and severe headache in the United States: figures and trends from government health studies. Headache. 2018;58:496–505.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Lipton RB, Bigal ME, Diamond M, Freitag F, Reed ML, Stewart WF, AMPP Advisory Group. Migraine prevalence, disease burden, and the need for preventive therapy. Neurology. 2007;68:343–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Schwedt TJ. Chronic migraine. BMJ. 2014;348:g1416.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Negro A, Martelletti P. Chronic migraine plus medication overuse headache: two entities or not? J Headache Pain. 2011;12:593–601.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  6. Negro A, Rocchietti-March M, Fiorillo M, Martelletti P. Chronic migraine: current concepts and ongoing treatments. Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci. 2011;15:1401–20.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Katsarava Z, Buse DC, Manack AN, Lipton RB. Defining the differences between episodic migraine and chronic migraine. Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2012;16:86–92.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Society AH. The American Headache Society position statement on integrating new migraine treatments into clinical practice. Headache. 2019;59:1–18.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Diener H-C, Holle-Lee D, Nägel S, et al. Treatment of migraine attacks and prevention of migraine: guidelines by the German Migraine and Headache Society and the German Society of Neurology. Clinical and translational. Neuroscience. 2019;3:2514183X1882337.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Silberstein SD. Preventive migraine treatment. Continuum. 2015;21:973–89.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  11. Silberstein SD, Holland S, Freitag F, Dodick DW, Argoff C, Ashman E, Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology and the American Headache Society. Evidence-based guideline update: pharmacologic treatment for episodic migraine prevention in adults: report of the Quality Standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology and the American Headache Society. Neurology. 2012;78:1337–45.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Ha H, Gonzalez A. Migraine headache prophylaxis. Am Fam Physician. 2019;99:17–24.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Society AH, American Headache Society. The American Headache Society position statement on integrating new migraine treatments into clinical practice. Headache. 2018; https://doi.org/10.1111/head.13456.

  14. Linde M, Mulleners WM, Chronicle EP, McCrory DC. Antiepileptics other than gabapentin, pregabalin, topiramate, and valproate for the prophylaxis of episodic migraine in adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;6:CD010608.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Linde M, Mulleners WM, Chronicle EP, McCrory DC. Gabapentin or pregabalin for the prophylaxis of episodic migraine in adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;6:CD010609.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Cutrer FM. Antiepileptic drugs: how they work in headache. Headache. 2001;41(Suppl 1):S3–10.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Shank RP, Doose DR, Streeter AJ, Bialer M. Plasma and whole blood pharmacokinetics of topiramate: the role of carbonic anhydrase. Epilepsy Res. 2005;63:103–12.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Durham PL, Niemann C, Cady R. Repression of stimulated calcitonin gene-related peptide secretion by topiramate. J Headache Pain. 2006;46(8):1291–5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Silberstein SD. Topiramate in migraine prevention: a 2016 perspective. Headache. 2017;57:165–78.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Linde M, Mulleners WM, Chronicle EP, McCrory DC. Topiramate for the prophylaxis of episodic migraine in adults. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;6:CD010610.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Parikh SK, Silberstein SD. Current status of antiepileptic drugs as preventive migraine therapy. Curr Treat Options Neurol. 2019;21:16.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Diener H-C, Tfelt-Hansen P, Dahlof C, Lainez J, Sandrini G, Wang S-J, Neto W, Jacobs D, et al. Topiramate in migraine prophylaxis: results from a placebo-controlled trial including an active comparator-propranolol. Cephalalgia. 2003;251(8):943–50.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Freitag FG, Collins SD, Carlson HA, et al. A randomized trial of divalproex sodium extended-release tablets in migraine prophylaxis. Neurology. 2002;58:1652–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Chen G, Manji HK, Hawver DB, Wright CB, Potter WZ. Chronic sodium valproate selectively decreases protein kinase C α and ε in vitro. J Neurochem. 1994;63:2361–4.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Li Y, Zhang Q, Qi D, Zhang L, Yi L, Li Q, Zhang Z. Valproate ameliorates nitroglycerin-induced migraine in trigeminal nucleus caudalis in rats through inhibition of NF-кB. J Headache Pain. 2016;17:49.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Mohammadianinejad SE, Abbasi V, Sajedi SA, Majdinasab N, Abdollahi F, Hajmanouchehri R, Faraji A. Zonisamide versus Topiramate in migraine prophylaxis. Clin Neuropharmacol. 2011;34:174–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Rabkin R, Stables DP, Levin NW, Suzman MM. The prophylactic value of propranolol in angina pectoris. Am J Cardiol. 1966;18:370–83.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Danesh A, Gottschalk PCH. Beta-blockers for migraine prevention: a review article. Curr Treat Options Neurol. 2019;21:20.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Limmroth V, Michel MC. The prevention of migraine: a critical review with special emphasis on β-adrenoceptor blockers. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2001;52:237–43.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  30. Sprenger T, Viana M, Tassorelli C. Current prophylactic medications for migraine and their potential mechanisms of action. Neurotherapeutics. 2018;15:313–23.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  31. Steiner TJ, Joseph R, Hedman C, Rose FC. Metoprolol in the prophylaxis of migraine: parallel-groups comparison with Placebo and dose-ranging follow-up. Headache. 1988;28:15–23.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Lance JW, Curran DA. Treatment of chronic tension headache. Lancet. 1964;1:1236–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Xu X-M, Liu Y, Dong M-X, Zou D-Z, Wei Y-D. Tricyclic antidepressants for preventing migraine in adults. Medicine. 2017;96:e6989.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  34. Gray AM, Pache DM, Sewell RD. Do alpha2-adrenoceptors play an integral role in the antinociceptive mechanism of action of antidepressant compounds? Eur J Pharmacol. 1999;378:161–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Dodick DW, Freitag F, Banks J, Saper J, Xiang J, Rupnow M, Biondi D, Greenberg SJ, Hulihan J. Topiramate versus amitriptyline in migraine prevention: a 26-week, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, parallel-group noninferiority trial in adult migraineurs. Clin Ther. 2009;31:542–59.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Smitherman TA, Brooke Walters A, Maizels M, Penzien DB. The use of antidepressants for headache prophylaxis. CNS Neurosci Ther. 2011;17:462–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Moja L, Cusi C, Sterzi R, Canepari C. Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) for preventing migraine and tension-type headaches. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2005;3:CD002919.

    Google Scholar 

  38. Allais G, Benedetto C. Spotlight on frovatriptan: a review of its efficacy in the treatment of migraine. Drug Des Devel Ther. 2016;10:3225.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  39. Loder E, Burch R, Rizzoli P. The 2012 AHS/AAN guidelines for prevention of episodic migraine: a summary and comparison with other recent clinical practice guidelines. Headache. 2012;52:930–45.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Diener H-C, Charles A, Goadsby PJ, Holle D. New therapeutic approaches for the prevention and treatment of migraine. Lancet Neurol. 2015;14:1010–22.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Goadsby PJ. Incredible progress for an era of better migraine care. Nat Rev Neurol. 2015;11:621–2.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Edvinsson L. The Trigeminovascular pathway: role of CGRP and CGRP receptors in migraine. Headache. 2017;57:47–55.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Grimsrud KW, Halker Singh RB. Emerging treatments in episodic migraine. Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2018;22:1–6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  44. Edvinsson L, Haanes KA, Warfvinge K, Krause DN. CGRP as the target of new migraine therapies — successful translation from bench to clinic. Nat Rev Neurol. 2018;14:338–50.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Deen M, Correnti E, Kamm K, Kelderman T, Papetti L, Rubio-Beltrán E, Vigneri S, Edvinsson L, Van Den Brink AM. Blocking CGRP in migraine patients--a review of pros and cons. J Headache Pain. 2017;18:96.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Deen M, On behalf of the European Headache Federation School of Advanced Studies (EHF-SAS), Correnti E, Kamm K, Kelderman T, Papetti L, Rubio-Beltrán E, Vigneri S, Edvinsson L, Van Den Brink AM. Blocking CGRP in migraine patients – a review of pros and cons. J Headache Pain. 2017; https://doi.org/10.1186/s10194-017-0807-1.

  47. Petersen KA, Birk S, Lassen LH, Kruuse C, Jonassen O, Lesko L, Olesen J. The CGRP-antagonist, BIBN4096BS does not affect cerebral or systemic haemodynamics in healthy volunteers. Cephalalgia. 2005;25:139–47.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Dodick D, Lipton RB, Martin V, et al. Consensus statement: cardiovascular safety profile of triptans (5-HT agonists) in the acute treatment of migraine. Headache. 2004;44:414–25.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Goadsby PJ, Reuter U, Hallström Y, Broessner G, Bonner JH, Zhang F, Sapra S, Picard H, Mikol DD, Lenz RA. A controlled trial of Erenumab for episodic migraine. N Engl J Med. 2017;377:2123–32.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Cho S-J, Song T-J, Chu MK. Treatment update of chronic migraine. Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2017; https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-017-0628-6.

  51. Negro A, Martelletti P. Patient selection for migraine preventive treatment with anti-CGRP(r) monoclonal antibodies. Expert Rev Neurother. 2019;19:769–76.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Silberstein SD, Dodick DW, Bigal ME, Yeung PP, Goadsby PJ, Blankenbiller T, Grozinski-Wolff M, Yang R, Ma Y, Aycardi E. Fremanezumab for the preventive treatment of chronic migraine. N Engl J Med. 2017;377:2113–22.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Stauffer VL, Dodick DW, Zhang Q, Carter JN, Ailani J, Conley RR. Evaluation of Galcanezumab for the prevention of episodic migraine: the EVOLVE-1 randomized clinical trial. JAMA Neurol. 2018;75:1080–8.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  54. Silberstein SD. Practice parameter: evidence-based guidelines for migraine headache (an evidence-based review): report of the quality standards Subcommittee of the American Academy of neurology. Neurology. 2000;55:754–62.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  55. D’Onofrio F, Raimo S, Spitaleri D, Casucci G, Bussone G. Usefulness of nutraceuticals in migraine prophylaxis. Neurol Sci. 2017;38:117–20.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  56. Lipton RB, Gobel H, Einhaupl KM, Wilks K, Mauskop A. Petasites hybridus root (butterbur) is an effective preventive treatment for migraine. Neurology. 2004;63:2240–4.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. Rajapakse T, Pringsheim T. Nutraceuticals in migraine: a summary of existing guidelines for use. Headache. 2016;56:808–16.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  58. Von Luckner A, Riederer F. Magnesium in migraine prophylaxis—is there an evidence-based rationale? A systematic review. Headache. 2018;58:199–209.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  59. Mody I, Lambert JD, Heinemann U. Low extracellular magnesium induces epileptiform activity and spreading depression in rat hippocampal slices. J Neurophysiol. 1987;57:869–88.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  60. Xu F, Arakelyan A, Spitzberg A, Green L, Cesar P-H, Csere A, Nworie O, Sahai-Srivastava S. Experiences of an outpatient infusion center with intravenous magnesium therapy for status migrainosus. Clin Neurol Neurosurg. 2019;178:31–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  61. Hansen JM, Charles A. Differences in treatment response between migraine with aura and migraine without aura: lessons from clinical practice and RCTs. J Headache Pain. 2019;20:96.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  62. Colombo B, Saraceno L, Comi G. Riboflavin and migraine: the bridge over troubled mitochondria. Neurol Sci. 2014;35(Suppl 1):141–4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  63. Littarru GP, Tiano L. Clinical aspects of coenzyme Q10: an update. Nutrition. 2010;26:250–4.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  64. Pareek A, Suthar M, Rathore GS, Bansal V. Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium L.): a systematic review. Pharmacogn Rev. 2011;5:103.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  65. Feverfew–a new drug or an old wives’ remedy? Lancet. 1985; 1:1084.

    Google Scholar 

  66. Linde K, Allais G, Brinkhaus B, Fei Y, Mehring M, Vertosick EA, Vickers A, White AR. Acupuncture for the prevention of episodic migraine. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016;6:CD001218.

    Google Scholar 

  67. Pistoia F, Sacco S, Carolei A. Behavioral Therapy for Chronic Migraine. Curr Pain Headache Rep. 2013; https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-012-0304-9.

  68. Kelman L. The triggers or precipitants of the acute migraine attack. Cephalalgia. 2007;27:394–402.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  69. Starling AJ, Dodick DW. Best practices for patients with chronic migraine: burden, diagnosis, and management in primary care. Mayo Clin Proc. 2015;90:408–14.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  70. Simpson DM, Hallett M, Ashman EJ, et al. Practice guideline update summary: botulinum neurotoxin for the treatment of blepharospasm, cervical dystonia, adult spasticity, and headache. Neurology. 2016;86:1818–26.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  71. Simpson DM, Hallett M, Ashman EJ, et al. Practice guideline update summary: botulinum neurotoxin for the treatment of blepharospasm, cervical dystonia, adult spasticity, and headache: report of the guideline development Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology. Neurology. 2016;86:1818–26.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  72. Aurora SK, Dodick DW, Turkel CC, DeGryse RE, Silberstein SD, Lipton RB, Diener HC, Brin MF. OnabotulinumtoxinA for treatment of chronic migraine: results from the double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled phase of the PREEMPT 1 trial. Cephalalgia. 2010;30:793–803.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  73. Dodick DW, Turkel CC, DeGryse RE, Aurora SK, Silberstein SD, Lipton RB, Diener H-C, Brin MF. OnabotulinumtoxinA for treatment of chronic migraine: pooled results from the double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled phases of the PREEMPT clinical program. Headache. 2010;50:921–36.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  74. Diener HC, Dodick DW, Aurora SK, Turkel CC, DeGryse RE, Lipton RB, Silberstein SD, Brin MF, PREEMPT 2 Chronic Migraine Study Group. OnabotulinumtoxinA for treatment of chronic migraine: results from the double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled phase of the PREEMPT 2 trial. Cephalalgia. 2010;30:804–14.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  75. Aoki KR. Review of a proposed mechanism for the antinociceptive action of botulinum toxin type A. Neurotoxicology. 2005;26:785–93.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  76. Guerzoni S, Pellesi L, Baraldi C, Cainazzo MM, Negro A, Martelletti P, Pini LA. Long-term treatment benefits and prolonged efficacy of OnabotulinumtoxinA in patients affected by chronic migraine and medication overuse headache over 3 years of therapy. Front Neurol. 2017; https://doi.org/10.3389/fneur.2017.00586.

  77. Negro A, Curto M, Lionetto L, Martelletti P. A two years open-label prospective study of OnabotulinumtoxinA 195 U in medication overuse headache: a real-world experience. J Headache Pain. 2015;17:1.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  78. Blumenfeld AM, Bloudek LM, Becker WJ, Buse DC, Varon SF, Maglinte GA, Wilcox TK, Kawata AK, Lipton RB. Patterns of use and reasons for discontinuation of prophylactic medications for episodic migraine and chronic migraine: results from the second international burden of migraine study (IBMS-II). Headache. 2013;53:644–55.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  79. Lefaucheur J-P, André-Obadia N, Antal A, et al. Evidence-based guidelines on the therapeutic use of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). Clin Neurophysiol. 2014;125:2150–206.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  80. Starling AJ, Tepper SJ, Marmura MJ, et al. A multicenter, prospective, single arm, open label, observational study of sTMS for migraine prevention (ESPOUSE Study). Cephalalgia. 2018;38:1038–48.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  81. Chou DE, Gross GJ, Casadei CH, Yugrakh MS. External trigeminal nerve stimulation for the acute treatment of migraine: open-label trial on safety and efficacy. Neuromodulation. 2017;20:678–83.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  82. Bhola R, Kinsella E, Giffin N, Lipscombe S, Ahmed F, Weatherall M, Goadsby PJ. Single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (sTMS) for the acute treatment of migraine: evaluation of outcome data for the UK post market pilot program. J Headache Pain. 2015; https://doi.org/10.1186/s10194-015-0535-3.

  83. Misra UK, Kalita J, Bhoi SK. High-rate repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in migraine prophylaxis: a randomized, placebo-controlled study. J Neurol. 2013;260:2793–801.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  84. Riederer F, Penning S, Schoenen J. Transcutaneous supraorbital nerve stimulation (t-SNS) with the Cefaly® device for migraine prevention: a review of the available data. Pain Ther. 2015;4:135–47.

    Article  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  85. Martelletti P, on Behalf of the PRESTO Study Group, Barbanti P, et al. Consistent effects of non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation (nVNS) for the acute treatment of migraine: additional findings from the randomized, sham-controlled, double-blind PRESTO trial. J Headache Pain. 2018; https://doi.org/10.1186/s10194-018-0929-0.

  86. Silberstein SD, Calhoun AH, Lipton RB, et al. Chronic migraine headache prevention with noninvasive vagus nerve stimulation: the EVENT study. Neurology. 2016;87:529–38.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  87. Hepp Z, Bloudek LM, Varon SF. Systematic review of migraine prophylaxis adherence and persistence. J Manag Care Pharm. 2014;20:22–33.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2021 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Dayal, R., Sulindro, A.D. (2021). Prophylaxis of Migraine Protocols and Options. In: Shah, S. (eds) Migraine. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-75239-2_4

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-75239-2_4

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-75238-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-75239-2

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics