title: Triptan use in Italy: Insights from administrative databases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In this drug utilization study, we aimed at assessing the pattern of triptan use in Italy by means of the drug prescription databases of two local health authorities, accounting for approximately 1 million citizens.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population included all residents aged 18 to 84 years in the Vercelli province (about 175,000 inhabitants) and in the Umbria region (about 885,000 inhabitants), who had at least one dispensation for triptans in 2012. A frequent user, who might be at risk of medication-overuse headache (MOH), was defined as a patient being dispensed at least 10 defined daily doses (DDD) of triptans every month for at least three consecutive months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Triptans were used by 0.7%-1% of the population. While most patients were dispensed fewer than 60 DDDs per year, about 10% of all triptan users were classified as frequent users. In both areas, patients below the age of 29 were less likely to be frequent users while the 40- to 49-year-old population was the most affected, with no sex difference. About two-thirds of frequent users persisted in this behavior for an additional three-month period in the following six months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data indicate that approximately 10% of all triptan users in the Italian population are potentially at risk for MOH. An approach based on drug prescription databases could be useful to identify patients at risk for MOH.
authors.affiliation: National Centre for Epidemiology, Surveillance and Health Promotion, National Institute of Health, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Da Cas
authors.affiliation: S.C. Farmaceutica Territoriale, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nigro
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, ''A. Avogadro'' University, Italy.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Terrazzino
authors.affiliation: Headache Science Center - C. Mondino National Neurological Institute, Italy.
authors.forename: Grazia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sances
authors.affiliation: Headache Science Center - C. Mondino National Neurological Institute, Italy.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Viana
authors.affiliation: Headache Science Center - C. Mondino National Neurological Institute, Italy; Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tassorelli
authors.affiliation: Headache Science Center - C. Mondino National Neurological Institute, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nappi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, ''A. Avogadro'' University, Italy.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cargnin
authors.affiliation: S.C. Farmaceutica Territoriale, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pisterna
authors.affiliation: National Centre for Epidemiology, Surveillance and Health Promotion, National Institute of Health, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Traversa
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, ''A. Avogadro'' University, Italy armando.genazzani@pharm.unipmn.it.
authors.forename: Armando A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Genazzani
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016208:Databases, Factual / Q000639:trends*; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000639:trends*; D005260:Female; D051271:Headache Disorders, Secondary / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D014363:Tryptamines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014363:Tryptamines
keywords: Migraine; medication-overuse headache; pharmacoepidemiology; prescription data; triptans