Abington (Pa.)-Jefferson Health researchers found more patients could benefit from migraine drugs.
Headache published the study.
Here are four observations:
1. Approximately 38 million Americans experience migraines, according to the Migraine Research Foundation.
2. The triptans and DHE medication classes most effectively treat migraines, but they both include black box warnings for two migraine subtypes, basilar and hemiplegic, due to stroke risk.
3. Of 80 patients with basilar or hemiplegic migraine diagnoses, researchers found no stroke or heart attack cases when they underwent either triptan or DHE treatment.
4. Because many physicians stray away from prescribing these drugs to patients with these two migraine subtypes, patients are often given less effective drugs like opioid narcotics.
