Verbal scales are currently used as efficacy parameters in acute migraine trials. In order to determine the correlation between headache intensity, functional disability, and relevant pain reduction, 100 patients completed a questionnaire. Our results showed that a verbal scale of headache intensity alone has different implications from one that includes pain intensity and functional ability. The reduction from a moderate to a mild headache was satisfactory to only 35% of the patients. In contrast, 77% of patients were satisfied when the headache intensity was reduced from severe to mild. These findings imply that, in assessing the efficacy of drugs used for migraine, a reduction in pain intensity from moderate to mild should not be considered as a good outcome.