The American Migraine Communications Study (AMCS) recently highlighted the need for improved communication between patients and healthcare professionals. Typically, physicians and patients discuss the frequency of their attacks and ignore other important factors such as the degree and duration of impairment with each migraine. Physicians should not ask closed-ended questions limited to migraine frequency. Several open-ended questions that assess migraine impairment should be asked by your healthcare provider. How do migraines make you feel even when you're not having one? How does migraine impact your daily life? How do migraines impact your work, family and social life? What activities have you given up because of your migraines?
The perceptions of the physician and the patient regarding the frequency and severity of migraine attacks vary greatly and the result can be a lack of discussion of preventive therapies in individuals who meet criteria for the initiation of preventive medication. Even today, about 50% of migraine sufferers are unaware of preventive medication as a treatment option. Therefore, healthcare professionals must spend adequate time with patients educating them about the options for preventive therapy as well as acute migraine treatment.
Acute medication is not always adequate to control migraine attacks. Preventive therapy should be discussed with patients requiring more than one dose of acute therapy per week or in those individuals experiencing prolonged disability during a migraine or significant side effects from their acute therapy. The physician must individualize migraine therapy. Some patients with only one migraine every few months are interested in preventive therapy while other patients with more frequent migraines are content with acute migraine therapy only, as long as it is effective.
Realistic expectations about the response to treatment are necessary on both sides of the fence. Patients must allow a month or longer, especially if the medication dose is being adjusted, on each preventive therapy to determine its effectiveness. Physicians must take into account the amount of impairment with each migraine attack. Total resolution of all migraines may be impossible without significant side effects. Lifestyle changes and medication therapy in combination may afford the best results.
Migraine is a chronic yet manageable disease. With good communication between physicians and patients, the best results and the lowest disability can be achieved.
The perceptions of the physician and the patient regarding the frequency and severity of migraine attacks vary greatly and the result can be a lack of discussion of preventive therapies in individuals who meet criteria for the initiation of preventive medication. Even today, about 50% of migraine sufferers are unaware of preventive medication as a treatment option. Therefore, healthcare professionals must spend adequate time with patients educating them about the options for preventive therapy as well as acute migraine treatment.
Acute medication is not always adequate to control migraine attacks. Preventive therapy should be discussed with patients requiring more than one dose of acute therapy per week or in those individuals experiencing prolonged disability during a migraine or significant side effects from their acute therapy. The physician must individualize migraine therapy. Some patients with only one migraine every few months are interested in preventive therapy while other patients with more frequent migraines are content with acute migraine therapy only, as long as it is effective.
Realistic expectations about the response to treatment are necessary on both sides of the fence. Patients must allow a month or longer, especially if the medication dose is being adjusted, on each preventive therapy to determine its effectiveness. Physicians must take into account the amount of impairment with each migraine attack. Total resolution of all migraines may be impossible without significant side effects. Lifestyle changes and medication therapy in combination may afford the best results.
Migraine is a chronic yet manageable disease. With good communication between physicians and patients, the best results and the lowest disability can be achieved.
RSS< Previous Post:
The Various Forms of Acute Migraine Therapy
