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Patient Response to Triptans vs. Other
Anti-migraine Drugs in Different Migraine Types:
A Clinical Practice Study
Kelman L.
Posted August 2003
Presented at: 45th Annual Scientific Meeting
American Headache Society

June 19-22, 2003; Chicago, Illinois


Objectives: In this study patients response to triptan versus non-triptan therapy was assessed in a clinical practice setting. In addition, this study attempted to draw a relationship between patient response (efficacy or adverse response) to triptan treatment and patient variability in terms of headache characteristics, social, psychological, and personal characteristics disability, sleep patterns, and women’s issues.

Conclusions: In this study, patients rated a better treatment response to triptans than non-triptans and anti-inflammatories in the symptomatic treatment of migraine. Although variations in triptan response were found between headache type and triptan medication at the initial visit, these were nullified when treatment was tailored to individual headache characteristics. Ideally if the right triptan can be found for each patient then a better triptan response can be achieved across all headache types. Patients chose triptans based more on efficacy than side effects. Most perceived adverse effects are due to the medication and not the headache. Each triptan efficacy and adverse effects rating in practice tends to gravitate to the mean due to bias in prescribing triptans and other treatments. Triptans are more effective than non-triptans across a wide range of migrainous disorders but not in transformed migraine. Specifically triptans are effective in IHS 1.7 migraine. Triptan efficacy is no different in teens from other age groups. Triptan responsiveness is correlated with decreased headache frequency, with aura with visual symptoms, not eating and perfume triggers, decreased number of children, and less excess sleep.