In a new study, researchers have proposed aspirin as a possible option for consideration by primary care providers who treat the majority of patients with migraine.
The research was conducted by a team from Florida Atlantic University.
Migraine headache is the third most common disease in the world affecting about 1 in 7 people.
More prevalent than diabetes, epilepsy, and asthma combined, migraine headaches are among the most common and potentially debilitating disorders encountered by primary health care providers.
Migraines also are associated with an increased risk of stroke.
There are effective prescription medications available to treat acute migraine headaches as well as to prevent recurrent attacks.
Nonetheless, in the United States, many patients are not adequately treated for reasons that include limited access to health care providers and lack of health insurance or high co-pays, which make expensive medications of proven benefit unaffordable.
The rates of uninsured or underinsured individuals have been estimated to be 8.5 percent nationwide and 13 percent in Florida.
Furthermore, for all patients, prescription drugs may be poorly tolerated or contraindicated.
The current review includes evidence from 13 randomized trials of the treatment of migraines in 4,222 patients and tens of thousands of patients in the prevention of recurrent attacks.
Their findings suggest that high-dose aspirin, in doses from 900 to 1,300 milligrams given at the onset of symptoms, is an effective and safe treatment option for acute migraine headaches.
In addition, some but not all randomized trials suggest the possibility that daily aspirin in doses from 81 to 325 milligrams may be an effective and safe treatment option for the prevention of recurrent migraine headaches.
The review supports the use of high dose aspirin to treat acute migraine as well as low dose daily aspirin to prevent recurrent attacks.
Moreover, the relatively favorable side effect profile of aspirin and extremely low costs compared with other prescription drug therapies may provide additional clinical options for primary health care providers treating acute as well as recurrent migraine headaches.
Common symptoms of migraine include a headache that often begins as a dull pain and then grows into a throbbing pain, which can be incapacitating and often occurs with nausea and vomiting, and sensitivity to sound, light, and smell.
Migraines can last anywhere from four to 72 hours and may occur as many times as several times a week to only once a year.
Approximately 36 million Americans suffer from migraine headaches and the cause of this disabling disorder is not well understood.
There is a higher prevalence in women (18 percent) than men (9 percent). In women, the prevalence is highest during childbearing age.
Approximately 90% of migraine sufferers report moderate to severe pain, with more than 50% reporting severe impairment or the need for bed rest as well as reduced work or school productivity.
The lead author of the study is Charles H. Hennekens, M.D., Dr.PH.
The study is published in the American Journal of Medicine.
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