ACP releases new migraine treatment guidelines for adults

The American College of Physicians (ACP) has released new guidelines for treating acute migraines in outpatient settings. These guidelines were published online on March 18 in the Annals of Internal Medicine. The guidelines focus on adults who experience acute episodic migraines, which occur between one to 14 days a month. Dr. Amir Qaseem and his team evaluated various treatments based on their benefits, risks, and costs, as well as what patients prefer. The ACP has made two main recommendations. First, for nonpregnant adults who do not find relief from a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), it recommends adding a triptan medication for treating moderate to severe migraines. This is a strong recommendation backed by moderate evidence. Second, for nonpregnant adults who do not respond to acetaminophen, the ACP suggests that a triptan should also be used. This recommendation is conditional and based on lower confidence in the evidence. The authors of the guidelines emphasize the need for more research into new migraine treatments, especially studies that compare these new options with existing medications, such as triptans combined with NSAIDs or acetaminophen.