Published Headache Guidelines
On this page, you will find published resources that serve as additional aids to understanding evidence-based practices for patients who experience headaches.
​A Recent Comprehensive Headache Guideline: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and U.S. Department of Defense Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Headache (2023)
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​The 2023 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Headache provides updated, evidence-based recommendations for the diagnosis and management of headache disorders, with a focus on primary care settings. This work focuses on all stages of headache care, from diagnosis to follow-up. It provides medication recommendations, suggests lifestyle changes, and tailors treatment plans for special populations.
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Guidelines of the International Headache Society for controlled trials of preventive treatment of migraine attacks in episodic migraine in adults (2020)
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The paper provides updated guidelines from the International Headache Society (IHS) for conducting controlled trials on preventive treatments for episodic migraine in adults. Major findings emphasize the importance of rigorous study design, including randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials with clearly defined inclusion criteria and endpoints such as a reduction in monthly migraine days. It highlights the need for robust statistical methods, clinically meaningful outcomes, and adequate trial duration (typically 12 weeks) to assess efficacy and safety. The guidelines aim to standardize research practices, improve data reliability, and support the development of effective, evidence-based migraine prevention therapies.
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The American Headache Society Consensus Statement: Update on integrating new migraine treatments into clinical practice (2021)
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The American Headache Society's updated consensus statement guides integrating new acute and preventive migraine treatments into clinical practice. Acute treatments include celecoxib oral solution, lasmiditan (with driving restrictions), remote electrical neuromodulation (REN), and oral CGRP antagonists like rimegepant and ubrogepant, which show efficacy and safety. Preventive options highlighted are rimegepant, effective when taken every other day, and eptinezumab, an intravenous anti-CGRP antibody. Neuromodulation devices are recommended for patients preferring nondrug options or with contraindications to medications. These guidelines support informed decision-making in migraine care.
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International Headache Society & International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd Edition (2018)
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The International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD) is an algorithmic system to define and classify all known headache disorders. It is divided into primary headache disorders such as migraine and symptomatic headaches which are a symptom of a different disorder. The ICHD presents classification criteria, comments, and further information for headache disorders; it is revised from time to time and is now in its 3rd edition.
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