Which medication is used as abortive therapy for an acute migraine?

Which medication is used as abortive therapy for an acute migraine?

• A. ACETAMINOPHEN
• B. IBUPROFEN
• C. SUMATRIPTAN
• D. NONE

Answer: (C)

Abortive therapy for an acute migraine aims to stop the attack quickly. Sumatriptan is a migraine-specific abortive medication. It’s a serotonin receptor agonist (5-HT1B/1D) that constricts cranial blood vessels and inhibits release of inflammatory neuropeptides from the trigeminal nerve endings, helping to halt the headache when taken at the onset of symptoms. It works best if used early in the attack and is available in several forms, such as oral, nasal spray, and injectable. Acetaminophen and ibuprofen are general analgesics and can help with pain, but they lack the targeted action of triptans to abort a migraine promptly, especially in moderate to severe episodes. Therefore, they’re less effective as migraine-specific abortive therapy. The option none is incorrect because there is an effective abortive option listed.

Abortive therapy for an acute migraine aims to stop the attack quickly. Sumatriptan is a migraine-specific abortive medication. It’s a serotonin receptor agonist (5-HT1B/1D) that constricts cranial blood vessels and inhibits release of inflammatory neuropeptides from the trigeminal nerve endings, helping to halt the headache when taken at the onset of symptoms. It works best if used early in the attack and is available in several forms, such as oral, nasal spray, and injectable.

Acetaminophen and ibuprofen are general analgesics and can help with pain, but they lack the targeted action of triptans to abort a migraine promptly, especially in moderate to severe episodes. Therefore, they’re less effective as migraine-specific abortive therapy. The option none is incorrect because there is an effective abortive option listed.