Goal: Abort headache within 2 hours, restore function, minimize recurrence.

EM is not a static condition. It exists on a spectrum. Without proper management, EM can "transform" into Chronic Migraine due to medication overuse or central sensitization.

Episodic Migraine is a genetic, neurovascular disease involving trigeminal activation and CGRP release. It is defined by distinct phases (prodrome, aura, headache, postdrome) and a frequency of <15 days/month. Effective management requires a dual approach: rapid abortive treatment to stop attacks and lifestyle/preventative strategies to raise the brain's threshold for activation.

| For Clinicians | For Patients | |----------------|---------------| | EM is defined by <15 headache days/month. | Track your headache days on a calendar or app. | | Overuse of acute medication (triptans, opioids, combination analgesics) drives chronification. | Do not take triptans more than 10 days/month. | | Prophylaxis is underprescribed; consider at 4+ migraine days/month. | If you have ≥4 attacks/month, discuss prevention with your doctor. | | CGRP monoclonal antibodies are first-line for refractory EM with high frequency. | Lifestyle regularity is as important as medication. | | Always screen for medication-overuse headache in EM patients worsening over time. | Migraine is a neurological disease—not a character flaw. |