In response to this, researchers sought to develop a more streamlined medication that only acts on the brain cell receptors - and this was how ditans were created. This made it unsuitable for those with conditions like heart or vascular disease.³¹ ³² ³³ Triptans target multiple serotonin receptors found on the brain and blood vessels, and one of its side effects was blood vessel constriction. But there is a major drawback to this medication. Of all the older medications, triptans were considered the gold standard for treating migraines and it's still being used by clinicians today. It was thought to be effective in reducing blood vessel dilation that occurs during migraines.Īntidepressants also target serotonin pathways (like ditans) and are usually used to address mental health conditions like depression and anxiety.Īntiseizure medications block electrical impulses in nerves and brain cells.īotox was used to help reduce pain signals being transmitted to areas like the forehead and scalp.Īnti-sickness medication was used to address nausea symptoms. Triptans (sumatriptan) that target serotonin pathways in the brain (which is similar to the ways ditans work).įor older preventive treatments, there are:īeta-blockers which are traditionally used to reduce blood pressure.
Normal painkillers - such as paracetamol.Īnti-inflammatory painkillers - like Ibuprofen and aspirin. How do newer migraine treatments compare with older ones?īefore gepants and ditans came on the scene, here were some of the most common medicines used to treat migraine:²⁸ ¹⁹ ²⁹ ³⁰ While the exact causes of migraine still remain unclear (everyone has different triggers and predispositions), they discovered a vital part of its underlying biological mechanism that forms the basis of the latest migraine treatments.⁶ ⁴ Peter Goadsby, Director of NIHR Clinical Research Facility & Professor of Neurology at King's College London, and his team. So while they were somewhat effective, these treatments were not really targeting the true causes of the pain.⁵ The 2 key players in migraines: CGRPs and serotoninĪll this has changed recently with pioneering research conducted by Dr. It was only by chance that clinicians realized that they had a secondary benefit in alleviating some migraine symptoms. As a result, migraines have been inaccurately conceptualized throughout the years as being the result of a solely vascular issue relating to blood flow in the brain, as well as a psychosomatic symptom of stress intolerance.Īnd while treatments have been available, they were all medications used to address other co-morbidities or conditions (like epilepsy and depression).
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