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Middle-aged woman suffering from a migraine, holding her head in her hands

Migraine

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Last updated: 3rd Sep 2024

Migraine

Migraine is a debilitating headache disorder, which affects over one billion people globally1.

Migraine manifests as recurrent episodes of headache of moderate-to-severe pain intensity, lasting between 4–72 hours2. Symptoms of migraine include nausea, vomiting, phonophobia or photophobia2.

Optimal migraine diagnosis follows clinical criteria described in the International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition (ICHD-3)2. Head pain that is unilateral, pulsating, or worsened by physical activity, should prompt a diagnosis of migraine2.

Evidence suggests that migraine pathogenesis involves the trigeminal nerve and its projections to the intracranial vasculature3. Nociceptive signals from the trigeminovascular system transmit to cortical brain regions that contribute to migraine pain and associated symptoms3.

Progress in explaining migraine has identified signalling molecules that are involved in the pathogenesis of a migraine episode3. This knowledge stimulated development of mechanism-based therapies for migraine, including therapies based on CGRP4-16 or pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP).

Independent, grant-supported education for migraine

Related Journal Articles

References

  1. Stovner LJ, Nichols E, Steiner TJ, Abd-Allah F, Abdelalim A, Al-Raddadi RM, et al. Global, regional, and national burden of migraine and tension-type headache, 1990–2016: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016. Lancet Neurol. 2018;17(11):954–976.
  2. Headache Classification Committee of the International Headache Society (IHS) the International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition. Cephalal. 2018;38:1–211.
  3. Ashina M, Hansen JM, Do TP, Melo-Carrillo A, Burstein R, Moskowitz MA. Migraine and the trigeminovascular system—40 years and counting. Lancet Neurol. 2019;18(8):795–804.
  4. Aimovig® Highlights of Prescribing Information. 2021. Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2021/761077s009lbl.pdf.
  5. Emgality® Highights of Prescribing information. 2018. Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2018/761063s000lbl.pdf.
  6. Ajovy® Highlights of Prescribing Information. 2018. Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2018/761089s000lbl.pdf.
  7. Vyepti® Highlights of Prescribing Information. 2020. Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2020/761119s000lbl.pdf.
  8. Vyepti® Summary of product characteristics. 2022. Available at: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/product-information/vyepti-epar-product-information_en.pdf.
  9. Aimovig® Summary of product characteristics. 2023. Available at: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/product-information/aimovig-epar-product-information_en.pdf.
  10. Ajovy® Summary of product characteristics. 2022. Available at: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/product-information/ajovy-epar-product-information_en.pdf.
  11. Emgality® Summary of product characteristics. 2022. Available at: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/product-information/emgality-epar-product-information_en.pdf.
  12. Ubrelvy® Highlights of prescribing information. 2019. Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2019/211765s000lbl.pdf.
  13. Nurtec ODT® Highlights of prescribing information. 2022. Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2022/212728s009lbl.pdf.
  14. Qulipta® Highlights of prescribing information. 2021. Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2021/215206Orig1s000lbl.pdf.
  15. Zavzpret® Highlights of prescribing information. 2023. Available at: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2023/216386s000lbl.pdf.
  16. Vydura® Summary of product characteristics. 2023. Available at: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/product-information/vydura-epar-product-information_en.pdf.