THE ROLE OF THE PHARMACIST IN MIGRAINE TREATMENT

Migraine is one of the chronic neurological diseases that can be observed frequently in the society. Due to the restrictions it brings to social life and causing labor loss by affecting the professional life negatively and affecting the quality of life of the individuals, it creates a very important health problem for the society. The pharmacological treatment of migraine covers the treatment of attack and the prophylactic treatment. The medications used in the attack treatment are; simple analgesics, combined analgesics, NSAID (nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug) medications, neuroleptic medications, antiemetic medications, steroids, opioids, ergot alkaloids, triptans. The medications used in the prophylactic treatment are; beta blockers, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, calcium channel blockers, serotonin antagonists. The pharmacists who are the first contact healthcare consultants for the patients have a very important role for the follow up of the use of the proper medication prescribed by the doctor, for giving the correct information to the patient and the patient’s relatives about the medication and other methods of treatment, and referring the patients to the doctors when necessary. By fulfilling this duty, the migraine patients will have a better awareness about their diseases and inadequate or wrong treatments will be avoided. Thus, the correct treatment will be provided and the quality of life of the society will be increased