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Naratriptan in the Preventive Treatment
of Refractory Chronic Migraine: A Review of 27 Cases
Alan Rapoport, MD; Marcelo Bigal, MD, et al.
Posted: July 2003  
Headache 2003;43:482-489


Objective:   To review the efficacy of naratriptan as preventive treatment in 27 patients with chronic migraine refractory to other commonly used preventive therapies.

Background:   The treatment of chronic migraine often poses a major challenge to the clinician. Even when given expert care, patients with chronic migraine may continue to have daily or near-daily headaches.

Results:   Of the 20 patients who continued to use naratriptan daily for at least 6 months, 13 reverted to an episodic pattern of pain (migraine). At 1 year, 11 still continued to experience episodic headache, 1 relapsed to chronic migraine, and 2 were lost to follow-up. No patients had intolerability to naratriptan during the treatment period, and no one stopped treatment due to adverse events.

Conclusion:   Naratriptan may have a role in the preventive treatment of intractable chronic migraine. Prospective, controlled studies should be considered.