title: The role of methysergide in migraine and cluster headache treatment worldwide - A survey in members of the International Headache Society.
abstract: Background Methysergide has been as an effective treatment for migraine and cluster headache for over 50 years but has recently been investigated by the European Medicines Agency due to safety concerns. Methods To assess the need for continuing availability of methysergide, the International Headache Society performed an electronic survey among their members. Results The survey revealed that 71.3% of all respondents had ever prescribed methysergide and 79.8% would prescribe it if it were to become available. Respondents used it more in cluster headache than migraine, and reserved it for use in refractory patients. Conclusion The vast majority of headache experts in this survey regarded methysergide a unique treatment option for specific populations for which there are no alternatives, with an urgent need to continue its availability. This position was supported by the International Headache Society.
authors.affiliation: 1 Centre for Neuroscience and Trauma, BICMS, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, UK.
authors.forename: E Anne
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: MacGregor
authors.affiliation: 2 University of Münster, Medical Faculty, Germany.|3 Department of Neurology, Krankenhaus Lindenbrunn, Germany.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Evers
mesh_terms: D003027:Cluster Headache / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008784:Methysergide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D008784:Methysergide
keywords: Migraine; cluster headache; methysergide