Triptan use after starting prophylactic migraine treatment: A retrospective cohort study in a primary care population. (October 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Smelt, Antonia FH; Assendelft, Willem JJ; van Dijk, Christel E; Blom, Jeanet W
• Is Part Of: Cephalalgia. Volume 34:Number 11(2014)
• Page Start: 927
• Page End: 932
• Publication Date: 2014-10
• Subjects: Migraine -- triptans -- preventive medication -- effectiveness -- primary care; Headache -- Periodicals; 616.8491
• DOI: 10.1177/0333102414521511
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0333-1024

Abstract

Background: Clinical trials on the prophylactic effect of propranolol and metoprolol for migraine show that starting this medication leads to a decrease in the use of attack medication of 0.9–8.9 doses per month. However, studies in daily practice are lacking. Methods: We compared the number of triptans prescribed in the six months before and the six months after the start of propranolol/metoprolol in a Dutch national representative primary care cohort. Results: Of the 168 triptan-using patients who started with propranolol or metoprolol, the number of triptans prescribed before starting was 4.6 doses per month. The number of triptans prescribed six months before compared with six months after starting propranolol/metoprolol decreased with 1.0 dose per month (Wilcoxon rank test; p = 0.000). Conclusion: In this primary care population, although the number of triptans prescribed decreased after starting propranolol or metoprolol, the decrease is relatively small compared to data from clinical trials.