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Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Migraine prevention gets a major upgrade. The American Academy of Neurology and American Headache Society have released their first updated migraine prevention guidelines since 2012, now incorporating CGRP-targeted therapies and a stronger push for individualized, shared decision-making. The guidelines also flag that far more patients qualify for preventive treatment than are currently receiving it.
The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) and American Headache Society have released their first updated migraine prevention guidelines since 2012, and the biggest change is the formal incorporation of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-targeted therapies — a class of treatments that didn't exist when the last guidelines were written. Based on a systematic review of 217 studies, the updated guidance covers both episodic and chronic migraine in adults and emphasizes individualized, shared decision-making over a one-size-fits-all approach.
The guidelines stress that preventive therapy is significantly underutilized — more patients qualify than are currently being treated. Clinicians are encouraged to offer prevention to anyone with 4+ migraine days per month or significant disability. Special attention is given to pregnant patients, recommending nonpharmacologic approaches first, with nifedipine as the preferred medication option if needed, and advising against valproate and topiramate due to fetal risks.
Why it matters: These guidelines give clinicians a clearer, more modern roadmap for migraine prevention — one that reflects over a decade of new evidence and could meaningfully expand access to effective care for the millions of patients currently going undertreated.
