MIGRAINE - A PHARMACOLOGICAL REVIEW WITH NEWER OPTIONS AND DELIVERY MODALITIES

The management of migraine usually centers on two approaches: preventi ve and abortive therapy. Preventive therapy, designed to reduce the fr equency, duration, and intensity of attacks, can be accomplished throu gh a wide variety of medications. The most commonly used are beta-bloc kers, but calcium channel blockers, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents have all been used with succ ess. Agents used in abortive migraine therapy treat the intensity and duration of pain, as well as the associated symptoms. New treatment op tions have been developed, including such newly approved medications a s sumatriptan. Sumatriptan is a very effective agent that has joined t he ranks of other effective abortive migraine treatments, such as ergo tamine, dihydroergotamine, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents, as well as narcotic analgesics. New delivery systems, such as the nasa l-spray formulation of butorphanol, allow for a route of administratio n previously unavailable to migraine sufferers. These new and developi ng treatment modalities will give physicians a wider choice of outpati ent therapy options.