Economic and patient-reported outcomes of oral triptans in the treatment of migraine.

Migraine places a tremendous burden on patients, employers, the healthcare system and society. Triptans often effectively reduce pain and suffering caused by migraine and return patients to their typical routine. Seven triptans are marketed in the USA, and prescribers and payers need information to compare their effectiveness and value. However, studies that compare the treatment and economic impact between the seven triptans are limited. Meta-analyses are a useful source of information to make comparisons between the triptans and provide essential information for clinical and formulary decision makers. Future research should assess and expand upon the use of composite outcome measures that capture the desired response to treatment, consider the placebo effect in migraine, and make comparisons among the available triptans.