Risk of ischemic complications related to the intensity of triptan and ergotamine use.

Objective: To investigate whether the intensity of triptan and ergotamine use, in specific overuse, is associated with the risk of ischemic complications.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective nested case-control study using data from the PHARMO Record Linkage System. All patients with more than one prescription for either a triptan or ergotamine were initially identified.

Reduction in the therapeutic intensity of abortive migraine drug use during ACE inhibition therapy--a pilot study.

Introduction: Since a few case reports have demonstrated some beneficial effects of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors in migraine prevention, we were interested in studying the impact of ACE inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor antagonists (Ang II) on the consumption of specific abortive migraine drugs and, therefore, indirectly on the frequency of migraine attacks.

Methods: Data from a large prescription database involving 95 patients initiating a specific abortive migraine drug (ergotamine or a triptan) and subsequently treated with either an ACE inhibitor or angiotensin receptor antagonist (index group: ACE/Ang II) or diuretic (reference group) were analysed. The effects of ACE/Ang II inhibition as well as diuretic therapy on reducing the frequency of migraine attacks were assessed by measuring the mean consumption of abortive migraine drug use, in DDDs per month ('therapeutic intensity'), before, during and after ACE/Ang II or diuretic therapy.

Incidence and determinants of antidepressant drug use in migraine patients.

The purpose of this retrospective, follow-up study was to characterise the use of antidepressant medication in a defined migraine population and evaluate the determinants thereof. Data was obtained from the PHARMO-RLS prescription database. Our migraine population (2,517 people) included patients having commenced specific migraine drugs, ergotamine or sumatriptan, for the first time from January 1 1992 to December 31 1998.

Migraine prophylactic medication usage patterns in The Netherlands.

This study aims to investigate usage patterns of specific migraine prophylactic medications in ergotamine and triptan patients commencing this treatment for the first time during 1 January 1992 until 31 December 1998. Usage patterns of specific migraine prophylactic drugs were evaluated for each patient by accessing data from a large prescription database and were characterized as continued, switch or stop use during the patient observation period. Several patient and medication-related factors were explored in order to identify a possible relationship with the specific usage pattern defined.

Single use of sumatriptan: a patient interview study.

Objective: To investigate the possible reasons associated with the use of a single prescription of sumatriptan.

Background: A few population-based studies concerning the usage patterns of sumatriptan have revealed a relatively high incidence (approximately 40%) of sumatriptan users who utilize only a single prescription of the drug.

Design And Methods: Using automated prescription data from 11 community pharmacies, we identified single and multiple sumatriptan prescription recipients.