Evolving treatments for migraine prevention

At EAN 2022, Cristina Tassorelli, Professor of Neurology, University of Pavia, Italy, discussed that non-migraine-specific oral preventive treatments that have been used for migraine include beta-blockers, calcium antagonists, anti-depressants, and anti-convulsants. However, while of use for some, ineffectiveness and the side-effect profile of some of these medications may limit use. More recently, migraine-specific monoclonal antibodies have been developed that target a neuropeptide involved with vasodilation and nociceptor receptor activation, linked with pain and other migraine symptoms. Combined, these older and newer treatments mean there is an increasing armamentarium for preventive migraine treatment.