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Inpatient Management of Migraine

  • Headache (RB Halker, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Migraine is a frequently disabling disorder which may require inpatient treatment. Admission criteria for migraine include intractable migraine, nausea and/or vomiting, severe disability, and dependence on opioids or barbiturates. The inpatient treatment of migraine is based on observational studies and expert opinion rather than placebo-controlled trials. Well-established inpatient treatments for migraine include dihydroergotamine, neuroleptics/antiemetics, lidocaine, intravenous aspirin, and non-pharmacologic treatment such as cognitive–behavioral therapy. Short-acting treatments possibly associated with medication overuse, such as triptans, opioids, or barbiturate-containing compounds, are generally avoided. While the majority of persons with migraine are admitted on an emergency basis for only a few days, outcome studies and infusion protocols during elective admissions at tertiary headache centers suggest a longer length of stay may be needed for persons with intractable migraine.

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Stephanie Wrobel Goldberg declares that she has no conflict of interest. Michael J. Marmura has received royalties from Medlink Neurology, Demos Medical, and Cambridge University Press for publications.

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  1. Department of Neurology, Jefferson Headache Center, Thomas Jefferson University, 900 Walnut St. Suite 200, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA

    Michael J. Marmura & Stephanie Wrobel Goldberg

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  1. Michael J. Marmura
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Correspondence to Michael J. Marmura.

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Marmura, M.J., Goldberg, S.W. Inpatient Management of Migraine. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep 15, 13 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11910-015-0539-z

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