In clinical trials of triptans in acute migraine, patients have traditionally been required to take their medication only when their pain reached moderate or severe intensity. This methodology better ensured that migraine attacks rather than nonmigraine headaches were treated, minimized the placebo response and simplified comparison of improvement as all patients start from the same baseline pain level. In clinical practice, patients do not take medication in this way, and there is some theoretical evidence that early treatment might be beneficial. There are increasing numbers of reports claiming advantages of ‘early’ treatment, when the pain is mild, over ‘late’ treatment, when pain is moderate or severe, but these studies raise significant methodologic issues. Treating ‘early’ may equate with treating ‘mild’ in slowly progressing attacks only but this may not always be the case in rapidly progressing attacks; these two types of migraine attacks should be distinguished carefully and investigated separately. Trials should be placebo-controlled, blinded, assess the therapeutic gain versus placebo rather than the absolute rates, and use the sustained pain-free endpoint. Early treatment may also increase the risk of medication overuse headaches. At present, there is no scientific support to advise patient to treat early. Patients should be advised to take their medication as soon as they are sure they are developing a migraine headache, but not during the aura phase.

This content is only available via PDF.
Copyright / Drug Dosage / Disclaimer
Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug.
Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.
You do not currently have access to this content.