Prevention of episodic migraines with topiramate: results from a non-interventional study in a general practice setting
Open Access
- 6 November 2009
- journal article
- clinical trial
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in The Journal of Headache and Pain
- Vol. 11 (1), 33-44
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s10194-009-0163-x
Abstract
The majority of patients with migraine headaches are treated in non-specialized institutions though data on treatment outcomes are largely derived from tertiary care centers. The current non-interventional study explores efficacy and tolerability outcomes of patients with episodic migraines receiving topiramate as preventive agent in a general practice setting. A total of 366 patients (87% female, mean age 41.8 ± 11.6 years) were eligible for migraine prevention and treated with flexible dose topiramate for 6 months (core phase), and optionally for a total of 12 months (follow-up phase). Overall, 261 patients (77.7% of safety analysis set, SAF) completed the core phase. Reasons for discontinuation included adverse events (2.1%), lost to follow-up (1.8%), other reasons (1.5%), and end of therapy (0.3%) though in the majority of patients who discontinued no reasons were listed. The median daily dose at endpoint was 50 mg/day (range, 25–187.5 mg/day). The median days with migraine headaches decreased from 6.0 to 1.2 days ( p < 0.001), median pain intensity score decreased from 17.0 to 3.2 points ( p < 0.001). In women with reported menstruation-associated migraine, the median number of migraine attacks decreased from 4.0 to 0.9 ( p < 0.001). Absenteeism as well as triptan use decreased significantly, and significant improvements in activities of daily living and quality of life were reported. The most frequently reported AEs were paraesthesia (4.2%) and nausea (3%). Results suggest that migraine prevention with topiramate in a general practice is generally well tolerated and associated with a significant improvement in migraine headaches and related functional impairment.Keywords
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