fig1 shows a preemptive prophylaxis of migraine device in the form of a hand - held computer , generally designated 10 , and having a key pad 12 and a screen 14 which advantageously is at least four inches ( 10 . 16 cm .) square . a hinge 15 is provided so the screen 14 may be conveniently folded down upon the key pad 12 for storage or transporting . when open the computer 10 is conveniently about 5 ″× 9 ″ ( 12 . 7 cm . by 22 . 86 cm .) in size . the key pad 12 has a built - in set of two mouse buttons 16 , 18 , a start / stop or on / off button 22 , an enter key 24 , and mood scale 2 keys 1 , 2 and 3 . as used herein the terms “ buttons ” and “ keys ” are intended to mean the same thing . the computer 10 contains memory chips ( not shown ) which have a set of programmed cognitive tests 103 - 106 ( hereafter described ) and which record a person &# 39 ; s performance time in milliseconds on those tests . the computer program uses the score in milliseconds on the third trial of these cognitive tests as a baseline measurement , which is converted to a stanine score . subsequent trials are similarly scored and converted to stanine . fig1 a shows a palm - top type computer 10 a which , when programmed with the cognitive tests 103 - 106 , performs the same functions as hand - held computer 10 . accordingly , the same functional parts identified in fig1 , are identified in fig1 a with the same numerals and the letter “ a ”. further description is deemed unnecessary . it is believed that the largest palm - top computer now available is 7 . 8 inches ( 19 . 81 cm .) long and the screen 14 a is not as large as the desired four inches ( 10 . 16 cm .) square . however , this deficiency is offset by the savings in using mass produced devices . fig2 shows the sequence of the method for measuring cognitive processing efficiency . from the seventeen tests of the original anam , four subtests were selected and sequenced for measuring cognitive processing efficiency of migraine sufferers , as follows : also included are two preliminary measures of alertness and mood that are also part of the anam : 1 . the first step 101 is stanford sleepiness scale which consists of seven statements that describe the present state of alertness or sleepiness and are numbered from one to seven , with one being highly alert and seven being close to sleep . individuals rate their level of alertness prior to taking the first subtest of the battery . it provides a way to monitor fatigue over the course of repeated measures . subjective ratings may be correlated with measured performance . 2 . the second step 102 is mood scale 2 which consists of a list of thirty - six adjectives that are rated on a three - point scale . using mouse button 16 participants respond to each adjective by indicating “ yes ,” “ moderately ,” or “ no ,” based on how they feel at the present time . the mood scale 2 categories include anger , happiness , fear ( anxiety ), depression , activity , and fatigue . 3 . the third step 103 is simple reaction time ( smrt ) which presents a simple stimulus on the screen (*). in response , the individual presses the mouse button 16 each time the stimulus appears . the reaction time measures the speed of the motor response , the peripheral nerve conduction velocity . this represents the “ hardware ” of the nervous system in terms of input , followed by motor response . actual cognitive processing time is not involved in this test . 4 . the fourth step 104 is running memory continuous performance test ( cpt ) which is a continuous letter comparison task . a randomized sequence of upper - case letters , a through z , is presented one at a time in the center of the computer screen 14 . the person presses button 16 if the letter on the screen matches the letter that immediately preceded it ; and different button 18 if the letter on the screen is different than the immediately preceding letter . the task lasts approximately five minutes . the cpt was specifically designed to assess components of memory , attention , efficiency and consistency . this task is forced paced , with individuals having only a brief time in which to respond . 5 . the fifth step 105 is matching to sample ( m2sp ) and consists of a number of trials that begins with a first design being presented in the center of the screen 14 for three seconds , followed by a showing that contains two designs . the person matches one of the two designs with the first design or sample by pressing the appropriate button 16 or 18 . the design is a 4 × 4 checkerboard and varies by the number of cells that are shaded from one cell through twelve cells . 6 . the sixth step 106 is mathematical processing ( math ) and involves arithmetic problems presented in the middle of the screen 14 . working from left to right , the person solves the addition and subtraction and decides if the answer is greater or less than the number 5 . as indicated , the scores are recorded by the computer 10 and the score on the third trial of these sequenced cognitive tests 103 - 106 are used as the baseline measurement . subsequent trials measure cognitive change as compared to baseline . a drop of one in stanine score is an indicator of the onset of migraine and an indicator of need for prophylaxis . see fig2 . this was empirically determined by the following research . the preemptive prophylaxis of migraine method was used to measure cognitive deficiency during a migraine in each of a group often migraineurs . the method was used to measure the return of cognitive efficiency after injection of sumatriptan , an anti - migraine medication , in each of the group often migraineurs . the method measured cognitive change , compared to the baseline stanine score , that predicted the onset of a migraine . the above described preemptive prophylaxis of migraine device and method allows a migraine sufferer to take medication to preempt the occurrence of head pain , associated symptoms and accompanying disability . it will be appreciated that the precise dose of medication administered to prevent the headache phase of migraine may depend on the particular compound used , the age and condition of the patient and the frequency and route of administration and will be at the ultimate discretion of the attendant physician . fig3 shows the phases of migraine . the entire migraine event is roughly divided into three time periods : pre - headache 31 , headache 32 and postdrome 33 . these time periods are further divided into phases . the pre - headache period is composed of phase i , prodrome 34 , and phase ii , aura 35 . the headache period is divided into phase iii , early headache 36 , and phase iv , late headache 37 . finally , phase v , postdrome 38 , encompasses the entire postdrome period . during the prodrome phase 4 of migraine , identified in fig3 , anti - convulsant medications are utilized to preclude the onset of the headache phase . examples of suitable anti - convulsants , with their brand name equivalents , include tiagabine hydrochloride ( gabitril ®), gabapentin ( neuronting ), phenytoin sodium ( dilantin ®), carbamazepine ( carbatrol ®), divalproex sodium ( depakote ®), felbamate ( felbatol ®), levetiracetam ( keppra ®, primidone ( mysoline ®), carbamazepine ( tegretol ®), topiramate ( topamax ®), oxcarbazepine ( trileptal ®), zonisamide ( zonegran ®), lamotrigine ( lamictal ®), methsuximide ( celontin ®), and thosuximide ( zarontin ®). it is contemplated that any of these anti - convulsant medications , and combinations thereof may be used as a prophylaxis to preclude the onset of migraine . basically , the preemptive prophylaxis method contemplated herein includes determining the impending onset of migraine and administering an anti - convulsant medication to preclude the bnset of migraine . as used herein , the term “ preclude ” is intended to include reducing adverse effects of or reducing the duration of migraine . advantageously , the onset is determined during the prodrome phase and the determination is made via tests to determine cognitive deficiency . advantageously , the medication is one or more of known anti - convulsant medications . other objects , features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art . while preferred medications and steps of the method have been illustrated and described , this had been by way of illustration and the invention should not be limited except as required by the scope of the appended claims .
a method of preventing the headache phase of migraine in a human comprises administration of an anti - convulsant medication to said human exhibiting prodrome symptoms of migraine . suitably , the method comprises administration of a migraine headache phase - preventing effective amount of the anti - convulsant . there is also disclosed a pharmaceutical composition for the prevention of the headache phase of a migraine containing an anti - convulsant as an active ingredient . there is also disclosed a method of determining prodromal symptoms of migraine using the following cognitive tests : simple reaction time ; running memory continuous performance task ; matching to sample ; mathematical processing task ; and interpreting the results as a percent of baseline indicator of need for prophylaxis .