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Abstract
Objective:
Compare the effectiveness and tolerability of current therapy with frovatriptan 2.5-mg tablets (in 1–3 migraines) in patients with migraine previously using other triptans, analgesics/nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), or triptans and NSAIDs (T+NSAIDs).
Research design and methods:
Subanalysis of a postmarketing survey study in patients with migraine managed at primary care facilities in Germany.
Main outcome measures:
A total of 5025 patients rated the effectiveness and tolerability of previous therapy (triptans; T+NSAIDs; NSAIDs) and current therapy with frovatriptan; physicians rated only frovatriptan effectiveness and tolerability (1 = Very Good, 2 = Good, 3 = Satisfactory, 4 = Poor).
Results:
Of 7107 patients initially surveyed, 5025 were identified for this subanalysis as previously using NSAIDs (n = 2890), triptans (n = 1418) or T + NSAIDs (n = 717). The mean (SD) age was 42.3 (11.9) years. At baseline, patients who previously used NSAIDs reported significantly fewer migraines per month, lower migraine severity, shorter migraine duration, and poorer ratings for effectiveness and tolerability versus responses from patients previously using triptans or T + NSAIDs (P < 0. 001 for each). Patient effectiveness ratings of Very Good or Good for previous therapy occurred in 49% (n = 691 of 1411) of patients using triptans, 27% (n = 195 of 716) of patients using T + NSAIDs, and 11% (n = 303 of 2866) of patients using NSAIDs (P < 0.04 between each group). Most patients rated current therapy with frovatriptan as Very Good or Good for effectiveness (86%, triptans; 83%, T + NSAIDs; 94%, NSAIDs) and tolerability (95%; 95%; 97%). Most physicians rated frovatriptan as Very Good or Good for effectiveness (87%; 86%; 95%) and tolerability (96%; 96%; 98%). Within-patient comparisons confirmed that frovatriptan had improved effectiveness (P < 0.001) and tolerability ratings (P < 0.001) in all three groups versus previous therapies.
Conclusions:
Intrapatient comparisons showed that most patients with migraine reported significantly improved effectiveness and tolerability ratings with frovatriptan versus previous acute therapies.
Transparency
Declaration of funding
This research was supported by Berlin-Chemie AG/Menarini International, Berlin, Germany, and Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc., Chadds Ford, PA, USA.
Declaration of financial/other relationships
J.B. has disclosed that he has consulted, received research grants and served on advisory committees for Endo, and also has received honoraria for speaking from Endo. R.K.C. has disclosed that he has received research grants, has served as a consultant for and is currently on the scientific advisory committee for Endo. He also has disclosed that he has served as a consultant, served on the advisory board, and received honoraria and grants from numerous pharmaceutical companies. J.C. has disclosed that he is an employee of Endo. B.A.J. has disclosed that she has no significant relationships with or financial interests in any commercial companies related to this study or paper.
Some peer reviewers receive honoraria from CMRO for their review work. The peer reviewers of this paper have disclosed that they have no relevant financial relationships.
Acknowledgments
The authors acknowledge editorial support provided by Kristine W. Schuler, MS, and Kevin Ryder, PhD, of Complete Healthcare Communications, Inc., Chadds Ford, PA, USA.
The sponsors or their agents were responsible for study design, management of the study and collection and analysis of the data. The authors were responsible for the interpretation of the data and the preparation, review and approval of the final manuscript.
The data in this paper were presented at the 50th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Headache Society, Boston, MA, USA, 26–29 June 2008.