New Guidelines on Migraine Prevention in Children and Adolescents

New guidelines highlight the current limits of evidence for migraine preventives in youth.

Sponsoring Organization: American Academy of Neurology (AAN)

Background and Objective

The AAN has issued new clinical practice guidelines on migraine preventive treatment (i.e., headache frequency lowering) in children and adolescents, updated from their guidelines published in 2004 (Neurology 2004; 63:2215). The authors conducted a systematic review of 15 trials. (The AAN concurrently published guidelines on acute migraine treatments; NEJM JW Neurol Nov 2019 and Neurology 2019; 93:487.)

Key Recommendations

Topiramate is probably more effective than placebo at lowering headache frequency in children and adolescents.
Propranolol is possibly more effective than placebo.
Amitriptyline combined with cognitive-behavioral therapy is more effective …

Reviewing Author

Amy A. Gelfand, MD, MAS

New Guidelines on Migraine Prevention in Children and Adolescents

Topics

Background and Objective

Key Recommendations

Reviewing Author