Describe your assigned client’s situation. Why are they presenting to the
clinic? What medications are they currently taking?
My client is a 39-year-old female with a PMH of an IUD placement currently
taking only a multivitamin presenting to the clinic with complaints of
frequent migraines with aura up to seven times in the past month. The client
describes the aura as bright zig zag lights on one side of her vision followed
by a throbbing pain to one side of her head and photophobia. The pain limits
her activities of daily living requiring her to only lay in a dark room until the
pain subsides. Her exam at this time is unremarkable without any noted
environmental or social factors identified.
Assess the applicable clinical practice guideline (CPG) for your assigned
client. What treatment is recommended by the CPG for your client’s
situation?
According to Qaseem et al (2025), the client is experiencing acute episodic
migraine headaches defined as recurrent headache episodes lasting 4 to 72
hours with or without aura leading to the disabling of activities of daily living,
requiring prescription medication in addition to over the counter analgesics
and anti-inflammatories. If the symptoms are not relieved with the
appropriate dose of over the counter analgesic or anti-inflammatory,
acetaminophen and ibuprofen respectively, then the recommendation is to
prescribe a triptan to be added to the regimen (Qaseem et al, 2025).
Discuss your personal professional assessment of the client’s situation
provided in the scenario. What pharmacological treatment is necessary and
why?
According to the guideline’s definition of migraines, the client fits the
diagnosis of acute episodic migraines. Since it is not addressed if the client is
taking acetaminophen or NSAIDs at home for attacks, inquiring about her at
home regimen is necessary. If she is not taking acetaminophen or NSAIDs at
the appropriate dosages and intervals at home, then that is the
recommended initial treatment. Alternatively, if she is taking the
aforementioned and they have not provided relief, then sumatriptan should
be added to her regimen of acetaminophen or NSAIDs. The starting dose for
sumatriptan is 25mg and should be taking at the onset of the migraine.
Reflect on additional questions you have about your assigned client that may
influence treatment. What else do you need to know? What follow-up
assessments, labs, or conversations are required to ensure optimal health
outcomes?
Ensuring the client is not experiencing nausea as a symptoms as to
guarantee medication compliance. If she is experiencing nausea, an
