Archive for July 15, 2009
July 15, 2009 | 
Author A recent study was conducted to identify factors that predict adherence to triptans by migraine patients. Triptans have demonstrated efficacy for acute migraine, yet many migraine sufferers discontinue their use. The study group used consisted of sustained users (patients who had had at least one refill of triptans within the past year), and lapsed users (patients who had zero refills in the past year).
Results of the study showed that sustained users of triptans were significantly more satisfied with their medication, had more confidence in the medication’s ability to control headaches, and reported control of migraine with fewer doses of medication. Sustained users also switched triptans products significantly less often than lapsed users, and reported greater benefit from triptan intervention in restoring normal daily functions, including improved cognitive ability, compared with lapsed users’ ratings of their nontriptan medication. More lapsed users than sustained users reported adverse events associated with past triptan use.
This study shows that the patient’s satisfication and confidence in the efficacy of triptans are the strongest predictors of steady adherence to triptan use. The study suggests that lapsed users may not be receiving optimal treatment, and that they may benefit from additional education on proper use of triptans.
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A recent study was conducted to characterize menstrually associated headaches and migraine in adolescent girls and to identify any developmental or pubertal changes. Headache and migraine are a common problem in adolescents that often transition into a more structured pattern in adulthood. One pattern of the adult migraine is the menstrual association in a significant number of women.
The study was conducted by a retrospective analysis of the characterisitcs of adolescent’s headaches, including association with menstrual pattern. A detailed analysis of patient and parent reported headache characterisitics and patterns of longitudinal change with development and puberty was reviewed, including timing of headache with age and menstrual period and progression of these events over adolescence.
Results of the study demonstrated that menstrual association with migraine begins in adolescence. Once the menstrual pattern has developed, this association is stable. Early identification of this pattern has potential long-term benefit for improved lifelong outcome with migraine treatment.
A recent study was conducted to assess whether family history for chronic headache and drug overuse could be a possible risk factor for headache chronification. The study group consisted of patients with daily or near daily headaches that underwent a structured interview about family history for chronic headaches, medication overuse, substance abuse or dependence, and psychiatric disorders.
The study results indicated that family history for chronic headaches and drug overuse due in fact represent a risk factor for headache chronification. However, a large genetic epidemiological survery would be necessary for total confirmation of this association.
