Use of antimigraine medications and information needs during pregnancy and breastfeeding: a cross-sectional study among 401 Norwegian women.
OBJECTIVE
Migraine is highly prevalent among women of fertile age. The main objectives of this study were to describe the prevalence and patterns of use of antimigraine medications during pregnancy and breastfeeding and to identify maternal and migraine-related factors associated with medication use during pregnancy.


METHODS
The study is a cross-sectional internet-based survey among pregnant women and new mothers with migraine conducted in Norway from October 1, 2013 to February 1, 2014. Descriptive statistics were used to explore patterns of medication use, and logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the association between maternal socio-demographic and migraine-related factors and use of antimigraine medications during pregnancy.


RESULTS
Of the total 401 respondents, 34.9 % were pregnant and 65.1 % had delivered within the last 18 months. The majority reported use of antimigraine medications during pregnancy (73.3 %) and postpartum (64.8 %), yet less than a third considered their migraine to be optimally treated during pregnancy (31.7 %) and the breastfeeding period (27.2 %). The patterns of medication use markedly changed during pregnancy and postpartum. Women with moderate or severe migraine were more likely to use antimigraine medications during pregnancy compared to women with mild migraine.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite the fact that antimigraine medications were commonly used, the majority of the women felt that their migraine was suboptimally treated during pregnancy and postpartum. There was a decline in the use of medicines in pregnancy and postpartum, and the patterns of use markedly changed. Efforts to improve treatment of women with migraine during pregnancy and breastfeeding should be undertaken.
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Diagnostic Services, University Hospital of North Norway, PO Box 63, N-9038, Tromsø, Norway. siri.amundsen@unn.no.|Medical Pharmacology and Toxicology Research Group, Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, The Arctic University of Norway (UiT), Tromsø, Norway. siri.amundsen@unn.no.
Siri
http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7541-760X
S
Amundsen
Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety Research Group, Department of Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
Torunn G
TG
Øvrebø
Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety Research Group, Department of Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
Netta Marie S
NM
Amble
Sandvika Nevro Clinic, Sandvika, Norway.
Anne Christine
AC
Poole
Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety Research Group, Department of Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
Hedvig
H
Nordeng
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001942:Breast Feeding; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004878:Ergotamine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008787:Metoclopramide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014363:Tryptamines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055815:Young Adult
D000700:Analgesics; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D014363:Tryptamines; D008787:Metoclopramide; D004878:Ergotamine
Breastfeeding; Drug therapy; Information needs; Migraine; Pregnancy