Acute Migraine Dx-Tx

Posted on Jul 12, 2011 in Interactive | 0 comments

The Diagnosis, Treatment, and Management of Acute Migraine

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Learning Objectives:

After participating in this educational activity, participants should be better able to

1. Educate patients, using a Collaborative Care Model, to make appropriate therapeutic decisions that improve clinical outcomes
2. Identify key issues that impact accurate diagnosis of migraine
3. Recognize signs and symptoms of migraine to prevent its chronification

Migraine is a highly prevalent disease characterized by recurrent episodes of disabling headache, associated nausea, and sensory hypersensitivity. Migraine attacks generally begin early in life and continue over many decades of a person’s life. The significant disability associated with migraine is observed during an acute episode, but is more aptly understood through the accumulated disability of recurrent attacks over time. Research has demonstrated that one-third of patients having an acute migraine attack fail to achieve two-hour pain free efficacy. Reason for the suboptimal response to acute therapy are numerous and include ineffective medication, overuse of acute medication, inappropriate treatment strategy or formulation of medication, or lack of back-up or rescue medication. The therapeutic needs of the patient with migraine are often not adequately assessed due to lack of objective record or diary being used and inadequate follow-up to treatment response.

This activity will provide an alternative model to assessment and management by supplying the clinician a therapeutic “toolbox” that includes treatment strategies along with appropriate education for the patient that encourages the patient to become part of the treatment collaboration.

Published on July 12, 2011