See: Headache Management Guidelines |
4.7.4.1 Treatment of the acute migraine attack |
Analgesics - for preparations see section 4.7.1 |
Nausea - domperidone section 4.6 may be helpful. |
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First Line Options |
GREEN Sumatriptan |
tablets 50mg |
nasal spray10mg/ 0.1mL unit dose |
nasal spray 20mg/0.1mL unit dose |
GREEN Sumatriptan 3 mg/0.5 ml solution for injection in pre-filled pen |
Sumatriptan injection (subcutaneous) 6mg/0.5mL syringe |
GREEN Zolmitriptan |
Orodispersable tablets 2.5mg |
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Second Line options |
Patients often warrant a trial of different oral triptans due to individual variability in |
response, and prescribers should choose a second line product with their patient based on efficacy, tolerability, formulation |
and cost. |
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Back to Main chapter |
4.7.4.2 Prophylaxis of migraine |
Factors which trigger attacks should be sought. Therapy should be reviewed at 6 monthly intervals as long term |
prophylaxis with these drugs is undesirable. |
Amitriptyline is unlicensed for migraine but may be usefully prescribed at a dose of 10mg at night, increasing to a |
maintenance dose of 50-150mg at night. |
Sodium valproate (unlicensed) is no longer recommended. This is due to the availability of licensed anti-convulsants (e.g. |
topiramate) and also the teratogenic risk associated with its use in pregnancy (e.g. unplanned pregnancy). |
GREEN Amitriptyline (unlicensed) tablets 10mg, 25mg, 50mg |
GREEN Pizotifen |
tablets 500 micrograms, 1.5mg |
elixir 250 micrograms/5mL |
GREEN Propranolol capsules m/r 80mg |
GREEN Topiramate capsules NICE CG150 (see section 4.8 for use in epilepsy [AMBER]) |
RED Flunarizine capsules 5mg, 10mg (Sibelium®) Specialist use only |
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RED Galcanezumab [Emgality 120mg/1mL solution for injection p/f pens] |
NICE TA659 Galcanezumab is recommended as an option for preventing migraine in adults, only if: |
> they have 4 or more migraine days a month |
> at least 3 preventive drug treatments have failed and |
> the company provides it according to the commercial arrangement |
CCG Commissioned Blueteq form required |
RED Erenumab [Aimovig] |
NICE TA682 Erenumab is recommended as an option for preventing migraine in adults, only if: |
> they have 4 or more migraine days a month |
> at least 3 preventive drug treatments have failed |
> the 140mg dose of erenumab is used and |
> the company provides it according to the commercial arrangement |
Stop erenumab after 12 weeks of treatment if: |
> in episodic migraine [less than 15 headache days a month] the frequency does not reduce by at least 50% |
> in chronic migraine [15 headache days a month or more with at least 8 of those having features of migraine] the |
frequency does not reduce by at least 30% |
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RED Eptinezumab [Vyepti} ICS Commissioned Blueteq form required |
NICE TA871 Eptinezumab is recommend as an option for preventing migraine in adults, only if: |
> they have 4 or more migraines a month |
> at least 3 preventative drug treatments have failed |
> the company provides it according to the commercial arrangement. |
See full guidance |
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Treatment of chronic migraine |
RED Botulinum Toxin A (use of brand with lowest acquisition cost) injection CCG Commissioned |
NICE TA260 Recommended as an option for the prophylaxis of headaches in adults with chronic migraine) defined as |
headaches on at least 15 days per month of which at least 8 days are with migraine): |
° that has not responded to at least three prior pharmacological prophylaxis therapies and |
° whose condition is appropriately managed for medication overuse. |
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RED Fremanezumab solution for injection [Ajovy® 225mg/1.5ml] CCG Commissioned BlueTec form required |
NICE TA631 Recommended as an option for preventing migraine in adults, only if: |
º the migraine is chronic, that is, 15 or more headache days a month for more than 3 months with at least of |
those having features of migraine |
° at least 3 preventative drug treatments have failed and |
° the company provides it according to the commercial arrangement |
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Back to Main chapter |
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