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2026 Taiwan guidelines for the acute pharmacologic treatment of migraine in adults

C. Lau, Wei-Ta Chen, Tsung-Wei Hou, Yi-Chia Liaw, Yi-Hsien Tu, Jr-Wei Wu, Chun-Pai Yang, Ping-Kun Chen et al.

Journal of the Chinese Medical Association, 2026

Abstract

Since the publication of the Taiwan Headache Society's 2022 Guidelines for the Acute Treatment of Migraine Attacks, advances in headache medicine and the approval of new drugs in Taiwan have necessitated an update. To address clinical needs, the Guideline Committee of the Taiwan Headache Society reviewed evidence for pharmacological and non-pharmacological acute treatments using evidence-based principles. Drawing from the latest European, American, and international guidelines, and through expert consensus, this revision updates treatment roles, grades of recommendation, efficacy, and adverse-effect profiles. Currently, a broad range of medications is available in Taiwan for acute migraine management, categorised into "specific" and "non-specific" agents. Specific treatments include oral and intranasal triptans, and gepants, i.e., oral calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonists. Non-specific agents include acetaminophen and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs: diclofenac, ibuprofen, naproxen). Injectable prochlorperazine is also strongly recommended. Ergotamine/caffeine combinations are less effective and are second-line agents, while high-dose aspirin is limited by gastrointestinal risk. Considering the potential risk of dependency, tramadol or tramadol/paracetamol combinations should be reserved until all other agents fail, and should be limited to oral forms. Other opioids, such as morphine, butorphanol, etc., lack evidence and are not…

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