Evaluation of migraineurs' preferences for naratriptan over conventional first-line agents.

Author(s): Powers C, Szeto S, Pangtay D, Bort T, Cervi M, Cady R

Affiliation(s): Headache Care Center, Springfield, MO 65804, USA.

Publication date & source: 2000-08, Arch Fam Med., 9(8):753-8.

Publication type: Clinical Trial; Multicenter Study

OBJECTIVE: To assess patient satisfaction with and preference for naratriptan hydrochloride therapy over previous "nontriptan" therapy for migraines. DESIGN AND SETTING: Open-label study conducted at 15 primary care clinics. PATIENTS: One hundred forty-three adults meeting International Headache Society diagnostic criteria for migraine who were not using triptans as first-line therapy for migraines were enrolled; 115 completed the study. INTERVENTION AND OUTCOME ASSESSMENTS: At baseline, satisfaction with current migraine therapy was assessed. Patients were provided with naratriptan hydrochloride, 2.5 mg, to treat 3 migraines and diaries to record headache symptoms and response to treatment. After treating 3 migraines, satisfaction with naratriptan therapy and preference for either previous or naratriptan therapy were assessed. RESULTS: Eighty-nine (62%) of 143 patients had previous exposure to triptans, with lack of prescribing (55%) as the primary reason for not continuing their use as first-line therapy. Medications used for first-line therapy included simple analgesics (59%), combination products (46%), and narcotics (13%). After treating 3 migraines with naratriptan, satisfaction with migraine therapy increased from 47% to 75%. Sixty-three percent of patients preferred naratriptan therapy over their previous nontriptan therapy, 27% preferred their previous therapy, and 10% had no preference. The main reasons for preference for naratriptan therapy were "relieves pain effectively" (86%) and "restores ability to function/perform task" (81%). CONCLUSION: Naratriptan for first-line migraine therapy was preferred by most patients over previous nontriptan therapy.