Migraine Long Haulers: Lasting Effects
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Key Questions
- How does migraine most typically morph over time when someone has lived with it for decades?
- What concerns should we have about the effects of long-term migraine on our health outside of migraine attacks themselves: Are changes to brain structure or function likely? Are these changes permanent or can they be reversed, for instance, if you manage to reduce your attack frequency?
- What is known about the long-term trajectory of migraine?
- What do we know about the common “white-matter” abnormalities found in MRI scan results in people with migraine? What do they mean? Should we be concerned?
- What other health conditions or associations should people with long-term migraine look out for?
- Are there any opportunities to address other conditions that are comorbid with migraine using the same medication?
- What happens when treatments that have worked for patients stop working?
- When a new type of headache presents or a medication responsiveness changes, in what circumstances should there be an evaluation?
- Are there risks or concerns with long-term migraine medication use?
Is there a safety risk of using CGRP medications long-term?
Interview Notes
Find out more about Matthew Robbins, MD and his work here:
- Matthew Robbins, MD
- Twitter: @mrobbinsmd
Treatments Mentioned
- Amitriptyline
- Beta blockers
- Botulinum toxin
- CGRP
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Erenumab
- Exercise/nutritional program
- Topiramate
- Tricyclic antidepressants
- Nortriptyline
- Sleep hygiene
Please note: The Migraine World Summit’s aim is to bring you a variety of perspectives and expertise, independent of bias or judgment. Alternative theories presented in this video have not been medically reviewed. Views expressed in this interview do not necessarily represent the views of the Migraine World Summit. Please always consult your health care professional and do your own research before making changes to your treatment plan.
Matthew Robbins, MD
Associate Professor of Neurology & Residency Program Director
Weill Cornell Medicine, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital
Dr. Robbins earned his bachelor’s degree from Yale University and his MD from SUNY-Downstate College of Medicine. He completed his neurology residency, chief residency, and headache fellowship at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore. He served on the faculty at Montefiore-Einstein for nearly a decade in roles including chief of neurology at the Jack D. Weiler Hospital and director of inpatient services for the Montefiore Headache Center. He joined Weill Cornell in 2018, where he is the neurology residency program director, the Louis and Rachel Rudin Foundation Education Scholar, and an associate professor of neurology.
Dr. Robbins is the president-elect of the American Headache Society (AHS) and co-directs the AHS Resident Education Program. He is the president-elect of the New York State Neurological Society. He has served on the editorial boards of multiple neurology journals, including Continuum and Headache, and has won teaching awards from the American Academy of Neurology, AHS, National Headache Foundation, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and Weill Cornell.
He has led organizational initiatives related to headache, including guidelines, consensus statements, and quality measures. He is active in advocacy activities, including the Palatucci Advocacy Leadership Forum, serving multiple times as an adviser and faculty member.
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Over the past 50 years, our mission at the National Headache Foundation has been to further awareness of headache and migraine as legitimate neurobiological diseases. Much has changed during this time. With aid from advanced technology and clinical innovation, there are more treatment options than ever before. However, we understand that these diseases are still largely misunderstood and that finding the right treatment options for you requires insight.
VYEPTI is a treatment for the challenges you—or someone you know—may face with this condition. Talk to your healthcare provider to see if VYEPTI is right for you.
Listen in as world-leading migraine and headache experts share their gratitude for the 80+ patient advocates who help produce the Summit each year.
