Migraine Treatment Options
The 2 primary treatments listed in medical guidelines as providing proven and significant clinical benefit in treating migraines are triptans and dihydroergotamine mesylate, the active ingredient in MIGRANAL. They can be found in Group One of the chart below, which was developed by the American Headache Society® (AHS).
Triptans are a class of drugs that stimulate serotonin cell receptors. Triptans are popular migraine treatments that help many people, although up to a third of migraine sufferers do not find relief with them. Many of the triptans must be taken early in the progression of a migraine to work well.
MIGRANAL belongs to a different class of drugs called the ergotamines [er-GOT-ah-meenz] and works on multiple receptors in both the central and the peripheral parts of the brain. Although the clinical significance of this activity is unknown, this may enable it to provide relief when it is taken any time during a migraine attack.
The American Headache Society® (AHS) is a professional society of healthcare providers dedicated to the study and treatment of headache and face pain. Founded in 1959, AHS brings together physicians and other health providers from various fields and specialties to share concepts and developments about headache and related conditions. The chart below shows how they classify headache treatments.
AHS - UHSC Guidelines
Groupings do not imply superiority to other treatment options.
PO=per oral; SC=subcutaneous; IN=intranasal; IM=intramuscular; IV=intravenous; NSAIDs=nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; PR=per rectum.
aAt least 2 double-blind, placebo-controlled studies and clinical impression of effect. bModerate statistical and clinical benefit (1 double-blind, placebo-controlled study and clinical impression of effect). cStatistically effective, but not proven clinically, or clinically but not proven statistically effective (conflicting or inconsistent evidence).
INDICATION
Migranal (dihydroergotamine mesylate, USP) Nasal Spray is used to treat an active migraine headache with or without aura. Do not use it to try to prevent a migraine if you have no symptoms, to treat a common tension headache, or to treat a migraine that is not typical of your usual migraine.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Do not use Migranal Nasal Spray if you:
The use of Migranal® Nasal Spray should not exceed dosing guidelines and should not be used on a daily basis.
Serious cardiac (heart) events, including some that have been fatal, have occurred following use of injectable dihydroergotamine, the active ingredient in Migranal Nasal Spray, but are extremely rare.
The most commonly reported side effects in clinical studies with Migranal Nasal Spray were runny nose or congestion, altered sense of taste, application site reactions, dizziness, nausea and vomiting.
You are encouraged to report adverse side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call1-800-FDA-1088.
Please see the accompanying full Prescribing Information, including Information for the Patient and boxed Warning.
