Fourteen percent of people around the world suffer from migraines, but they often aren’t treated appropriately. Researchers surveyed more than 500 New Zealanders to see how they’re managing their migraines, with most using over-the-counter painkillers for immediate treatment, even though these drugs aren’t right for all migraine sufferers. More than half of those eligible for preventive medication weren’t taking it, often because these medications didn’t work or had significant side effects. The team says improved access to newer treatments is needed to give people with migraine better options to manage their disease.
Journal/conference: New Zealand Medical Journal
Organisation/s: University of Otago
Media release
From: Pasifika Medical Association Group
This study reports on a survey of 530 people with migraine that asked about use of medications to both treat and prevent migraine attacks in the last month. Participants were also asked about previous use of medications, reasons for stopping them and reasons for or against use of new migraine medications. International guidelines provide a clear consensus about best-practice migraine treatment, giving limits on the number of days a month that acute treatments can be safely taken, recommending against use of opioids and outlining when preventive medication is indicated. However, around a quarter of survey respondents were not taking acute medication in line with these guidelines and more than half of those eligible for preventive medication were not taking it, often because these medications did not work or had significant side effects. There is a clear unmet need for more effective and safer migraine treatments, but most new medications are not available in New Zealand. For medications that are available, respondents identified cost, lack of knowledge and awareness as barriers to their use. Improved access to treatments is needed to give people with migraine better options to manage their disease, reduce the impact and burden of migraine disease and enable health professionals to offer best-practice treatment.