Prevention of migraines

Migraines

Preventive (also called prophylactic) treatment of migraines can be an important component of migraine management. Such treatments can take many forms, including everything from surgery, taking certain drugs or nutritional supplements, to lifestyle alterations such as increased exercise and avoidance of migraine triggers.

The goals of preventive therapy are to reduce the frequency, painfulness, and/or duration of migraines, and to increase the effectiveness of abortive therapy.[1] Another reason to pursue these goals is to avoid medication overuse headache (MOH), otherwise known as rebound headache, which is a common problem among migraineurs. This is believed to occur in part due to overuse of pain medications, and can result in chronic daily headache.[2][3]

Standards for the conducts of trials of preventive medications have been proposed by the Task Force of the International Headache Society Clinical Trials Subcommittee.[4]

Behavioral treatments

Exercise for 15–20 minutes per day may be helpful for reducing the frequency of migraines.[5]

Diet, visualization, and self-hypnosis are also alternative treatments and prevention approaches. General dietary restriction has not been demonstrated to be an effective approach to treating migraine.[6]

Sexual activity has been reported by a proportion of male and female migraine sufferers to relieve migraine pain significantly in some cases.[7]

Medications

A 2006 review article by S. Modi and D. Lowder offers some general guidelines on when a physician should consider prescribing drugs for migraine prevention:

Following appropriate management of acute migraine, patients should be evaluated for initiation of preventive therapy. Factors that should prompt consideration of preventive therapy include the occurrence of two or more migraines per month with disability lasting three or more days per month; failure of, contraindication for, or adverse events from acute treatments; use of abortive medication more than twice per week; and uncommon migraine conditions (e.g., hemiplegic migraine, migraine with prolonged aura, migrainous infarction). Patient preference and cost also should be considered.

...Therapy should be initiated with medications that have the highest levels of effectiveness and the lowest potential for adverse reactions; these should be started at low dosages and titrated slowly. A full therapeutic trial may take two to six months. After successful therapy (e.g., reduction of migraine frequency by approximately 50 percent or more) has been maintained for six to 12 months, discontinuation of preventive therapy can be considered.[1]

Preventive medication has to be taken on a daily basis, usually for a few weeks, before the effectiveness can be determined. Supervision by a neurologist is advisable. A large number of medications with varying modes of action can be used. Selection of a suitable medication for any particular patient is a matter of trial and error, since the effectiveness of individual medications varies widely from one patient to the next. Often preventive medications do not have to be taken indefinitely. Sometimes as little as six months of preventive therapy is enough to "break the headache cycle" and then they can be discontinued.

The most effective prescription medications include several drug classes.

Beta blockers

A meta-analysis found that propranolol had an "overall relative risk of response to treatment (here called the 'responder ratio')" was 1.94.[8]

Anticonvulsants

Anticonvulsants such as valproic acid and topiramate. A meta-analysis by the Cochrane Collaboration of ten randomized controlled trials or crossover studies, which together included 1341 patients, found anticonvulsants had an "2.4 times more likely to experience a 50% or greater reduction in frequency with anticonvulsants than with placebo" and a number needed to treat of 3.8.[9] However, concerns have been raised about the marketing of gabapentin.[10]

Antidepressant

Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) such as amitriptyline and the newer selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as fluoxetine are sometimes prescribed.[11] Tricyclic antidepressants have been found to be more effective than SSRIs.[12] A meta-analysis by the Cochrane Collaboration found selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are no more effective than placebo.[13] Another meta-analysis found benefit from SSRIs among patients with migraine or tension headache; however, the effect of SSRIs on only migraines was not separately reported.[14]

Other

A wide range of other pharmacological drugs have been evaluated to determine their efficacy in reducing the frequency or severity of migraine attacks.[11] These drugs include beta-blockers, calcium antagonists, neurostabalizers, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), tricyclic antidepressants, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), other antidepressants, and other specialized drug therapies.[11] The US Headache Consortium lists five drugs as having medium to high efficacy: amitriptyline, divalproex, timolol, propranolol and topiramate.[11] Lower efficacy drugs listed include aspirin, atenolol, fenoprofen, flurbiprofen, fluoxetine, gabapentin, ketoprofen, metoprolol, nadolol, naproxen, nimodipine, verapamil and Botulinum A.[11] Additionally, most antidepressants (tricyclic, SSRIs and others such as Bupropion) are listed as "clinically efficacious based on consensus of experience" without scientific support.[11] Many of these drugs may give rise to undesirable side-effects, or may be efficacious in treating comorbid conditions, such as depression.

Medical devices

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation

A transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation device called Cefaly was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in the United States on March 11, 2014 for the prevention of migraines; this was the first medical device to get FDA approval for this purpose.[18]

Neurostimulation

Neurostimulation initially used implantable neurostimulators similar to pacemakers for the treatment of intractable chronic migraines[19][20] with encouraging good results. But the needed surgery with implantable neurostimulators is limiting the indication to severe cases.[21]

Transcranial magnetic stimulation

At the 49th Annual meeting of the American Headache Society in June 2006, scientists from Ohio State University Medical Center [22] presented medical research on 47 candidates that demonstrated that TMS — a medically non-invasive technology for treating depression, obsessive compulsive disorder and tinnitus, among other ailments — helped to prevent and even reduce the severity of migraines among its patients. This treatment essentially disrupts the aura phase of migraines before patients develop full-blown migraines.[23]

In about 74% of the migraine headaches, TMS was found to eliminate or reduce nausea and sensitivity to noise and light.[24] Their research suggests that there is a strong neurological component to migraines. A larger study will be conducted soon to better assess TMS's complete effectiveness.[25]

Biofeedback

Biofeedback has been used successfully by some to control migraine symptoms through training and practice.[26]Biofeedback helps patient to be conscious of some physiologic parameters to control them and try to relax. This method is considered to be efficient for migraine prevention.[27][28]

Surgery

There have been major pharmacological advances for the treatment of migraine headaches, yet patients must still endure symptoms until the medications take effect. Furthermore, often they still experience a poor quality of life despite an aggressive regimen of pharmacotherapy.[29] Migraine surgery techniques have proven most effective in selected patients, often resulting in permanent migraine prevention. The most effective appear to be those involving the surgical cauterization of the superficial blood vessels of the scalp (the terminal branches of the external carotid artery),[30] and the removal of muscles in areas known as "trigger sites".[31][32][33]

Arterial surgery

Surgical cauterization of the superficial blood vessels of the scalp (the terminal branches of the external carotid artery) is only carried out if it has been established with certainty that these vessels are indeed the source of pain. It is a safe and relatively atraumatic procedure which can be performed in a day facility.[34]

Nerve decompression

Migraine surgery which involves decompression of certain nerves around the head and neck may be an option in certain people who do not improve with medications.[35] It is only effective in those who respond well to Botox injections in specific areas.[32][33]

Botulinum toxin injection

Botulinum neurotoxin (Botox) injections have been approved in the US and UK for prevention of chronic migraines,[36] but do not appear to work for episodic migraines.[37] Several invasive surgical procedures are currently under investigation. One involves the surgical removal of specific muscles or the transection of specific cranial nerve branches in the area of one or more of four identified trigger points.[32]

Closure of patent foramen ovale

There also appears to be a causal link between the presence of a patent foramen ovale and migraines.[38][39] There is evidence that the correction of the congenital heart defect, patent foramen ovale (PFO), reduces migraine frequency and severity.[40] Recent studies have advised caution, though, in relation to PFO closure for migraines, as insufficient evidence exists to justify this dangerous procedure.[41][42]

Alternative medicine

Acupuncture

Cochrane reviews have found that acupuncture is effective in the treatment of migraines.[43] The use of "true" acupuncture seems to be slightly more effective than sham acupuncture, however, both "true" and sham acupuncture appear to be at least similarly effective as treatment with preventative medications, with fewer adverse effects.[44]

Supplements

Butterbur

Native butterbur contains some carcinogenic compounds, but a purified version, Petadolex, does not.[45] A systematic review of two trials totalling 293 patients (60 and 233 patients) showed "moderate evidence of effectiveness ... for a higher than the recommended dose of the proprietary Petasites root extract Petadolex in the prophylaxis of migraine."[46]

Cannabis

Cannabis was a standard treatment for migraines from 1874 to 1942.[47] It has been reported to help people through an attack by relieving the nausea and dulling the head pain, as well as possibly preventing the headache completely when used as soon as possible after the onset of pre-migraine symptoms, such as aura.[47]

Feverfew

The plant feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) is a traditional herbal remedy believed to reduce the frequency of migraine attacks. A number of clinical trials have been carried out to test this claim, but a 2004 review article concluded that the results have been contradictory and inconclusive.[48]

Manual therapy

A systematic review stated that chiropractic manipulation, physiotherapy, massage and relaxation might be as effective as propranolol or topiramate in the prevention of migraine headaches; however, the research had some problems with methodology.[49]

References

  1. 1 2 Modi S, Lowder D; Lowder (2006). "Medications for migraine prophylaxis". American Family Physician. 73 (1): 72–8. PMID 16417067.
  2. ↑ Diener H, Limmroth V; Limmroth (2004). "Medication-overuse headache: a worldwide problem". The Lancet Neurology. 3 (8): 475–83. PMID 15261608. doi:10.1016/S1474-4422(04)00824-5.
  3. ↑ Fritsche G; Diener HC (November 2002). "Medication overuse headaches — what is new?". Expert Opin Drug Saf. 1 (4): 331–8. PMID 12904133. doi:10.1517/14740338.1.4.331.
  4. ↑ Silberstein S, Tfelt-Hansen P, Dodick DW, Limmroth V, Lipton RB, Pascual J, et al. (2008). "Guidelines for controlled trials of prophylactic treatment of chronic migraine in adults". Cephalalgia. 28 (5): 484–95. PMID 18294250. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2982.2008.01555.x.
  5. ↑ http://www.headachedrugs.com/
  6. ↑ Holzhammer J, Wöber C; Wöber (2006). "Alimentary trigger factors that provoke migraine and tension-type headache". Schmerz (in German). 20 (2): 151–9. PMID 15806385. doi:10.1007/s00482-005-0390-2.
  7. ↑ Houle TT, Dhingra LK, Remble TA, Rokicki LA, Penzien DB; Dhingra; Remble; Rokicki; Penzien (June 2006). "Not tonight, I have a headache?". Headache. 46 (6): 983–90. PMID 16732844. doi:10.1111/j.1526-4610.2006.00470.x.
  8. ↑ Linde K, Rossnagel K; Rossnagel (2004). Linde, Klaus, ed. "Propranolol for migraine prophylaxis". Cochrane Database Syst Rev (2): CD003225. PMID 15106196. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD003225.pub2.
  9. ↑ Chronicle E, Mulleners W; Mulleners (2004). Mulleners, Wim M, ed. "Anticonvulsant drugs for migraine prophylaxis". Cochrane Database Syst Rev (3): CD003226. PMID 15266476. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD003226.pub2.
  10. ↑ Steinman M, Bero L, Chren M, Landefeld C; Bero; Chren; Landefeld (2006). "Narrative review: the promotion of gabapentin: an analysis of internal industry documents". Ann Intern Med. 145 (4): 284–93. PMID 16908919. doi:10.7326/0003-4819-145-4-200608150-00008.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Kaniecki R, Lucas S (2004). "Treatment of primary headache: preventive treatment of migraine". Standards of care for headache diagnosis and treatment. Chicago: National Headache Foundation. pp. 40–52.
  12. ↑ Jackson JL, Shimeall W, Sessums L, et al. (2010). "Tricyclic antidepressants and headaches: systematic review and meta-analysis". BMJ. 341: c5222. PMC 2958257 Freely accessible. PMID 20961988. doi:10.1136/bmj.c5222.
  13. ↑ Moja P, Cusi C, Sterzi R, Canepari C; Cusi; Sterzi; Canepari (2005). Moja, Lorenzo, ed. "Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) for preventing migraine and tension-type headaches". Cochrane Database Syst Rev (3): CD002919. PMID 16034880. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD002919.pub2.
  14. ↑ Tomkins G, Jackson J, O'Malley P, Balden E, Santoro J; Jackson; O'Malley; Balden; Santoro (2001). "Treatment of chronic headache with antidepressants: a meta-analysis". Am J Med. 111 (1): 54–63. PMID 11448661. doi:10.1016/S0002-9343(01)00762-8.
  15. ↑ Koehler, PJ; Tfelt-Hansen PC (Nov 2008). "History of methysergide in migraine.". Cephalalgia. 28 (11): 1126–35. PMID 18644039. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2982.2008.01648.x.
  16. ↑ Silberstein SD, Dodick DW, Lindblad AS, Holroyd K, Harrington M, Mathew NT, et al. (2012). "Randomized, placebo-controlled trial of propranolol added to topiramate in chronic migraine". Neurology. 78 (13): 976–84. PMC 3310312 Freely accessible. PMID 22377815. doi:10.1212/WNL.0b013e31824d5846.
  17. ↑ "The Efficacy of L-cysteine in Prevention of Headache Attacks in Migraine Patients". https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02315833
  18. ↑ http://www.fda.gov/newsevents/newsroom/pressannouncements/ucm388765.htm
  19. ↑ Schoenen, J; Allena, M; Magis, D (2010). "Neurostimulation therapy in intractable headaches". Handbook of clinical neurology / edited by P.J. Vinken and G.W. Bruyn. Handbook of Clinical Neurology. 97: 443–50. ISBN 9780444521392. PMID 20816443. doi:10.1016/S0072-9752(10)97037-1.
  20. ↑ Reed, KL; Black, SB; Banta Cj, 2nd; Will, KR (2010). "Combined occipital and supraorbital neurostimulation for the treatment of chronic migraine headaches: Initial experience". Cephalalgia. 30 (3): 260–71. PMID 19732075. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2982.2009.01996.x.
  21. ↑ Leone, M; Cecchini, AP; Franzini, A; Bussone, G (2011). "Neuromodulation in drug-resistant primary headaches: What have we learned?". Neurological sciences. 32 Suppl 1: S23–6. PMID 21533707. doi:10.1007/s10072-011-0554-z.
  22. ↑ http://medicalcenter.osu.edu/
  23. ↑ Lister, Sam (2006-06-22). "Zapper brings hope to migraine sufferers". The Times. London. Retrieved 2010-05-22.
  24. ↑ http://www.shns.com
  25. ↑ Mohammad, Yousef (2006-06-22). Magnets Zap Migraines. 49th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Headache Society. Los Angeles, California. Retrieved 2006-07-04.
  26. ↑ Nestoriuc Y, Martin A; Martin (2007). "Efficacy of biofeedback for migraine: a meta-analysis". Pain. 128 (1–2): 111–27. PMID 17084028. doi:10.1016/j.pain.2006.09.007.
  27. ↑ Nestoriuc, Yvonne; Martin, Alexandra (2007). "Efficacy of biofeedback for migraine: A meta-analysis". Pain. 128 (1–2): 111–27. PMID 17084028. doi:10.1016/j.pain.2006.09.007.
  28. ↑ Nestoriuc, Y; Martin, A; Rief, W; Andrasik, F (2008). "Biofeedback treatment for headache disorders: A comprehensive efficacy review". Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback. 33 (3): 125–40. PMID 18726688. doi:10.1007/s10484-008-9060-3.
  29. ↑ Jensen, R.; Stovner, L. J. (2008). "Epidemiology and comorbidity of headache". The Lancet Neurology. 7 (4): 354–361. PMID 18339350. doi:10.1016/S1474-4422(08)70062-0.
  30. ↑ Shevel E (2007). "Vascular Surgery for Chronic Migraine". Therapy. 4 (4): 451–456. doi:10.2217/14750708.4.4.451.
  31. ↑ Mosser, W.; Guyuron, B.; Janis, E.; Rohrich, J. (Feb 2004). "The Anatomy of the Greater Occipital Nerve: Implications for the Etiology of Migraine Headaches". Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 113 (2): 693–697; discussion 697–700. ISSN 0032-1052. PMID 14758238. doi:10.1097/01.PRS.0000101502.22727.5D.
  32. 1 2 3 Guyuron, B. K.; Kriegler, J. S.; Davis, J.; Amini, S. B. (Jan 2005). "Comprehensive surgical treatment of migraine headaches". Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 115 (1): 1–9. PMID 15622223. doi:10.1097/01.PRS.0000145631.20901.84.
  33. 1 2 Poggi, T.; Grizzell, E.; Helmer, D. (Jul 2008). "Confirmation of Surgical Decompression to Relieve Migraine Headaches". Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 122 (1): 115–122; discussion 122–4. ISSN 0032-1052. PMID 18594393. doi:10.1097/PRS.0b013e31817742da.
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  36. ↑ BOTOX(R) Receives First Authorisation in UK as Preventative Treatment in Chronic Migraine
  37. ↑ Naumann, M.; So, Y.; Argoff, E.; Childers, K.; Dykstra, D.; Gronseth, S.; Jabbari, B.; Kaufmann, C.; Schurch, B.; Silberstein, S. D.; Simpson, D. M.; Therapeutics Technology Assessment Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology (May 2008). "Assessment: Botulinum neurotoxin in the treatment of autonomic disorders and pain (an evidence-based review): Report of the Therapeutics and Technology Assessment Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology". Neurology. 70 (19): 1707–1714. ISSN 0028-3878. PMID 18458231. doi:10.1212/01.wnl.0000311390.87642.d8.
  38. ↑ Post, M. C.; Luermans, J.; Plokker, H.; Budts, W. (Jan 2007). "Patent foramen ovale and migraine". Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions. 69 (1): 9–9. ISSN 1522-1946. PMID 17143907. doi:10.1002/ccd.20931.
  39. ↑ Diener, H. C.; Kurth, T.; Dodick, D. (Jun 2007). "Patent foramen ovale and migraine". Current pain and headache reports. 11 (3): 236–240. ISSN 1531-3433. PMID 17504652. doi:10.1007/s11916-007-0196-2.
  40. ↑ Harder, B. (2005). "Against the Migraine". Science News. 167 (8): 119–120. JSTOR 4016110. doi:10.2307/4016110.
  41. ↑ Schürks, M; Diener, HC (2009). "Closure of patent foramen ovale in the prevention of migraine: Not enough evidence in favor". Nature Clinical Practice Neurology. 5 (1): 22–3. PMID 19048002. doi:10.1038/ncpneuro0971.
  42. ↑ Sarens, T; Herroelen, L; Van Deyk, K; Budts, W (2009). "Patent foramen ovale closure and migraine: Are we following the wrong pathway?". Journal of neurology. 256 (1): 143–4. PMID 19172218. doi:10.1007/s00415-009-0126-9.
  43. ↑ Lee, M. S.; Ernst, E. (2011). "Acupuncture for pain: An overview of Cochrane reviews". Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine. 17 (3): 187–189. PMID 21359919. doi:10.1007/s11655-011-0665-7.
  44. ↑ Linde, Klaus; Allais, Gianni; Brinkhaus, Benno; Fei, Yutong; Mehring, Michael; Vertosick, Emily A.; Vickers, Andrew; White, Adrian R. (2016-06-28). "Acupuncture for the prevention of episodic migraine". The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (6): CD001218. ISSN 1469-493X. PMC 4977344 Freely accessible. PMID 27351677. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD001218.pub3.
  45. ↑ Butterbur Extract: Topic Overview. WebMD, Last Updated: June 30, 2009
  46. ↑ Agosti R, Duke RK, Chrubasik JE, Chrubasik S; Duke; Chrubasik; Chrubasik (Nov 2006). "Effectiveness of Petasites hybridus preparations in the prophylaxis of migraine: a systematic review". Phytomedicine. 13 (9–10): 743–6. PMID 16987643. doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2006.02.008.
  47. 1 2 Russo E (May 1998). "Cannabis for migraine treatment: the once and future prescription? An historical and scientific review". Pain. 76 (1–2): 3–8. PMID 9696453. doi:10.1016/S0304-3959(98)00033-5. Retrieved 2008-08-30.
  48. ↑ Pittler MH, Ernst E.; Ernst (2004). Pittler, Max H, ed. "Feverfew for preventing migraine". Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (1): CD002286. PMID 14973986. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD002286.pub2.
  49. ↑ Chaibi, Aleksander; Tuchin, Peter J.; Russell, Michael Bjørn (2011). "Manual therapies for migraine: A systematic review". The Journal of Headache and Pain. 12 (2): 127–33. PMC 3072494 Freely accessible. PMID 21298314. doi:10.1007/s10194-011-0296-6.
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