Final answer:
The first action to take when a patient reports that their migraine medication is not working is to ask about their medication adherence, such as the dosage and frequency of tablets taken.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a patient reports that a medication prescribed for recurrent migraine headaches is not working, the first action that should be taken is to ask the patient about the number and frequency of tablets taken. This is important to determine if the patient has been following the prescribed dosage and schedule, as non-adherence could be a reason for the treatment's lack of effectiveness.
Additionally, assessing the patient's headache pain on a scale from 1 to 10 will provide quantitative data on the severity of the symptoms, which could be useful for the prescriber in re-evaluating the treatment plan. If the medication is indeed being used correctly and the headaches persist or worsen, reporting the patient's complaint to the prescriber is essential for further management which may include adjusting the medication or considering alternative therapies. Suggesting biofeedback as an adjunct to drug therapy may be helpful in some cases, but it should not be the first line of action before understanding the patient's current medication use and symptoms.