Rapidly Developing Migraine

Migraine in some patients may develop very rapidly, which need to be managed promptly. The commonly used drugs for management/treatment of migraine may not be effective in case of rapidly developing symptoms of migraine. If a patient is developing symptoms of migraine headache very fast, the treatment should be initiated as early as possible before the symptoms become severe. Prompt administration of correct drugs by correct route of administration is important in managing the patients with rapidly developing migraine.

What to do if symptoms of migraine develop very rapidly in a patient?

The symptoms of migraine may develop very rapidly in some patients and the symptoms may not be amenable to commonly used treatment regimens for migraine (acute migraine). If symptoms are developing very rapidly, the drugs used should be of fast acting to give prompt relief. The drugs commonly used in case of rapidly developing symptoms of migraine are zolmitriptan 5 mg nasal spray, sumatriptan 6 mg subcutaneously or dihydroergotamine 1 mg intramuscularly. The dose of sumatriptan is very less (in compare to oral dose, which is available 50 mgs tablets) because the effectiveness of sumatriptan is very good subcutaneously. The oral dose is high, due to incomplete absorption (which is approximately 15% only) of sumatriptan if given orally.

Incase of rapidly developing symptoms of migraine, the administered drugs should have very fast action with good clinical efficacy. For very fast action nasal spray and parenteral routes of administration are used.