[Triptan use in general practice: a French pharmacoepidemiological study].
This French pharmacoepidemiological study describes triptan use in general practice for triptan 'naive' (never treated by a triptan before study inclusion) and 'non-naive' (already treated by a triptan) patients. Data from 1774 patients were analysed (81% women). The mean age of the patients was 41 years (+/-12.8). This study showed that 95% of the patients had a diagnosis of migraine according to the International Headache Society (IHS) criteria. This result confirmed the effective use of triptans by general practitioners. Migraines in patients treated with triptans in the present study were more severe than in subjects reporting migraine in the general population. 'Naive' and 'non-naive' patients had similar IHS diagnoses and severity profiles but, for 'non-naive' patients, the migraine history was longer and the disability (quality of life) reported was worse than for the 'naive' patients. The reasons for the treatment switch were the need for improved efficacy, a faster onset of action, fewer recurrences and better tolerability.
Sénard
Jean-Michel
JM
Service de Pharmacologie Clinique, INSERM U586, Toulouse, France.
Nachit-Ouinekh
Fatima
F
Becq
Jean-Philippe
JP
Chastan
Georges
G
Fabre
Nelly
N
El Hasnaoui
Abdelkader
A
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004363:Drug Utilization; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D017891:Pharmacoepidemiology; D012702:Serotonin Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012737:Sex Factors
D012702:Serotonin Antagonists