CNS - migraine Flashcards
Is migraine a primary or secondary headache disorder
Primary - no known underlying cause
Which gender is migraine more common in
Females
What is migraine characterised by
Recurrent attacks of typically moderate to severe headaches that usually last between 4-72hours
Describe the headache in migraine
Usually unilateral (one side), pulsating, aggravated by routine physical activity, may be severe enough to impact or prevent daily activities
Often accompanied by n+v, photophobia, phonophobia
How is migraine subdivided
Migraine with aura
Migraine without aura
What is migraine with aura
Symptoms such as the following occur, which usually develop gradually and resolve within 1 hour, and they usually precede the onset of headache:
- visual symptoms (zigzag or flickering lights, lines, loss of vision)
- sensory symptoms (numbness, pains and needles)
- dysphasia
What is episodic migraine
Headache which occurs in less than 15 days a month
Low freq = 1-9 days a month
High freq = 10-14 days a month
What is chronic migraine
Headache which occurs on at least 15 days a month
Has the characteristics of migraine headache on at least 8 days a month for more than 3 months
How can a period trigger migraine
In some women, drop of oestrogen just before menstruation is a trigger
Symptoms generally occur from 2 days before bleeding, up until 3 days after bleeding
Medication overuse headache
Complication of migraine - frequent use of acute treatments increases the frequency and intensity of headache and can become the cause of the headache
Aims of treatment of acute migraine
To stop attack or significantly reduce severity of headache and other accompanying symptoms
Aims of preventative migraine treatment
Reduce freq, severity and duration of migraine attacks
Reduce development of medication overuse headaches
Lifestyle advice
Eat regular meals
Maintain adequate hydration, sleep and exercise
Avoid known triggers
Keep a headache daily to identify potential triggers, for minimum 8 weeks
What are some potential triggers of migraine
Stress
Relaxation after stress
Some food and drink (e.g. aged cheese, caffeine, alcohol esp red wine,)
Bright lights
1st line for acute migraine treatment
Monotherapy with aspirin, ibuprofen or 5HT1 receptor agonist (triptans)
Take as soon as pt knows they are developing migraine
Migraine with aura: take at the start of headache, not at the start of aura
1st line simple analgesia for migraine, including doses
Ibuprofen 400mg (if ineffective, consider increasing to 600mg) OR
Aspirin 900mg OR
Paracetamol 1000mg
Offer triptan alone or in combo with paracetamol or an NSAID:
oral sumatriptan 1st choice (50-100mg) and offer others if this fails
If vomiting restricts oral treatment, consider non oral formulation e.g. intranasal or SC
Consider offering anti emetic (e.g. metoclop 10mg or prochlorper 10mg) in addition to other acute meds even in absence of N+V
What is the recommended 5HT1-receptor agonist (triptan) of choice and why
Sumatriptan
Based on clinical efficacy and safety profiles
Alternative triptans that may be used if sumatriptan is unsuitable
Almotriptan
Eletriptan
Frovatriptan
Naratriptan
Rizatriptan
Zolmitriptan