Is Preventive Therapy Right for Me? Determining the Appropriate Patient

To figure out if a patient should try preventive care, your healthcare provider will follow some basic guidelines. How often the attacks happen is probably the most important question, but their severity and how much disability you have can also play a role in the decision.

The important point is, there are no set rules for making the decision to use preventive medication that work for everyone. Some experts believe that anyone who has two or more attacks per month may be eligible for preventive therapy; others feel that preventive medication should only be considered for patients who have at least three or four attacks every month.

Each migraine patient is unique. That can lead to big differences in the way a person reacts to the pain, nausea and/or vomiting, and sensitivity to light and/or sound that mean a migraine attack has arrived. It also means that people respond differently to various drugs used to prevent migraine. Click here to see sample questions a healthcare provider might ask to evaluate your need for treatment.

If you believe preventive treatment may be right for you, be sure to consult with your healthcare professional to discuss options. Click here for tips on effective communication with your healthcare provider.