Acute Medication Overuse Research Articles

Predicting initiation of preventive migraine medications: exploratory study in a large U.S. medical claims database

Objective: Despite guidelines that identify potential patients eligible for preventive migraine medications, their underutilization leaves patients at risk of acute medication overuse, disease progression, and higher healthcare resource utilization and disability. This exploratory, retrospective, observational study aimed to identify which factors predict preventive migraine medication initiation. Demographics and initiation of acute medication use were hypothesized to be predictive of initiation of preventive migraine medication.Methods: The Truven Health Analytics MarketScan1 U.S. Commercial and Medicare Supplemental claims database (2011-2013) was used to identify adults newly diagnosed with migraine. Patients were divided into 2 subgroups: initiated a preventive migraine medication (antidepressants, anti-epileptics, beta-blockers, or neurotoxins) within 1 year of migraine diagnosis and did not initiate a preventive migraine medication. Logistic regression models were constructed to identify factors associated with preventive migraine medication initiation.Results: Study population included 147,923 patients: 43,660 preventive migraine medication initiators and 104,263 non-preventive migraine medication patients. Best-fit model for predicting preventive migraine medication initiation included: female gender (odds ratio = 1.181 [95% CI = 1.144,1.218]; measured at date of first migraine diagnosis); headache diagnosis prior to migraine diagnosis (odds ratio = 1.538 [95% CI = 1.498,1.579]; measured 1-year before first migraine diagnosis); and sleep disorder (odds ratio = 1.206 [95% CI = 1.161,1.252]), headache/migraine-specific Emergency Department (ED) visit (odds ratio = 1.224 [95% CI = 1.168,1.283]), neurologist visit (odds ratio = 1.502 [95% CI = 1.459,1.547]), and acute medication refills with <90-day gap (odds ratio = 1.509 [95% CI = 1.470,1.549]) each measured at 1-year before first preventive migraine medication.Conclusions: In addition to consistent acute medication refills, specific comorbidity diagnoses, headache/migraine-specific ED utilization, and neurologist care are predictive of preventive migraine medication initiation in the 1-year post-incident migraine diagnosis.

The Impact of Shift Work on Migraine: A Case Series and Narrative Review.

We present a case report of 2 migraine patients engaged in shift work, followed by a narrative review, to assess whether shift work influences headache-related disability and chronification of migraine. Numerous modifiable factors can lead to chronification of migraine and to higher headache-related disability. These include, among others, obesity, depression, overuse of acute medications, ineffective acute treatments, and stressful life events. Sleep disruptions and disorders are also felt to increase the risk of transitioning from episodic to chronic migraine. We hypothesize that shift work, which by definition leads to atypical or irregular sleep cycles, along with poor quality sleep, is a risk factor for chronification of migraine. We present the case histories of 2 shift workers with migraine as per International Classification of Headache Disorders 3 criteria, seen at a large, busy academic headache center, followed by a narrative review of the literature. Previous literature regarding the relationship between shift work and migraine is sparse and conflicting, with more recent studies suggesting that shift work may be a risk factor for migraine-related disability. In our case series, both patients initially reported severe migraine headache-related disability and both patients had noted a worsening of their headaches after beginning night shift work. Both improved when switched back to day shifts, then worsened upon being put back on night shifts. Their headache patterns finally reverted from chronic to episodic migraine after eliminating night shifts completely and maintaining a good sleep routine. In the 2 cases presented, shift work appeared to be associated with chronification of migraine and higher headache-related disability despite optimal headache management and good patient adherence. A switch to only day shifts promoted transition to an episodic, less disabling pattern of migraine. It is clinically important to take a detailed sleep history in headache patients, and when appropriate, provide support for workplace accommodations. Further larger-scale, rigorous studies are needed to more clearly delineate the relationship between shift work and migraine.

Consensus of the Brazilian Headache Society on the treatment of chronic migraine.

Chronic migraine poses a significant personal, social and economic burden and is characterized by headache present on 15 or more days per month for at least three months, with at least eight days of migrainous headache per month. It is frequently associated with analgesic or acute migraine medication overuse and this should not be overlooked. The present consensus was elaborated upon by a group of members of the Brazilian Headache Society in order to describe current evidence and to provide recommendations related to chronic migraine pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatment. Withdrawal strategies in medication overuse headache are also described, as well as treatment risks during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Oral topiramate and onabotulinum toxin A injections are the only treatments granted Class A recommendation, while valproate, gabapentin, and tizanidine received Class B recommendation, along with acupuncture, biofeedback, and mindfulness. The anti-CGRP or anti-CGRPr monoclonal antibodies, still unavailable in Brazil, are promising new drugs already approved elsewhere for migraine prophylactic treatment, the efficacy of which in chronic migraine is still to be definitively proven.

Treatment patterns and predictors of costs among patients with migraine: evidence from the United States medical expenditure panel survey

Aim: Within a treated migraine population, to evaluate if the sub-group meeting criteria for high disease-specific total costs is significantly different to the sub-group with medium and/or low-costs, and to identify the associated risk factors.Methods: Data from the Household Component of Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS-HC, 2008–2012), a nationally representative survey of non-institutionalized civilians in the US, were analyzed. Key inclusion criteria were migraine diagnosis (ICD-9 code: 346.XX) and prescribed treatment for migraine. Patients were categorized into high (>top 10th percentile), low (<bottom 10th percentile), and medium (between high and low) cost sub-groups per migraine-specific total costs. Logistic regression models were applied to identify predictors of high vs medium and medium vs low-costs. Preventive eligibility, defined as (i) past/current use of migraine preventives or (ii) overuse of acute medications, was compared to non-preventive eligibility.Results: Within the treated migraine cohort (n = 1,735), the mean age was 39 years, 80% were female, and the majority were in the medium-cost sub-group (n = 1,360) (low-cost n = 190, high-cost n = 195). Significant predictors of high vs medium-costs were low SF-12 Physical Composite Scores (OR = 0.95; 95% CI = 0.92–0.97), low SF-6D health utility index scores (OR = 0.019; 95% CI = 0.002–0.193), preventive eligibility-i (OR = 0.019; 95% CI = 0.002–0.193), and preventive-eligibility-ii (OR = 3.10; 95% CI = 1.62–5.91). Statistically significant (p < 0.05) predictors of medium vs low-costs included anxiety, Fleishman score, preventive-eligible-i, and preventive-eligible-ii.Conclusions: Among patients treated for migraine, distinct characteristics, including patient-functioning measures and comorbidities, are predictive of high vs medium-costs, and medium vs low-costs. Preventive eligibility is a predictor of being in the higher cost sub-groups; however, preventive treatments that improve functioning and reduce acute medication use have the potential to reduce migraine-specific costs.Limitations: The results are limited to a population that is diagnosed and treated for migraine. Over-the-counter medication use, and migraine headache frequency and severity were not captured.

Aberrant interactions of cortical networks in chronic migraine: A resting-state fMRI study.

We investigated resting-state (RS)-fMRI using independent component analysis (ICA) to determine the functional connectivity (FC) between networks in chronic migraine (CM) patients and their correlation with clinical features. Twenty CM patients without preventive therapy or acute medication overuse underwent 3T MRI scans and were compared to a group of 20 healthy controls (HC). We used MRI to collect RS data in 3 selected networks, identified using group ICA: the default mode network (DMN), the executive control network (ECN), and the dorsal attention system (DAS). Compared to HC, CM patients had significantly reduced functional connectivity between the DMN and the ECN. Moreover, in patients, the DAS showed significantly stronger FC with the DMN and weaker FC with the ECN. The higher the severity of headache, the increased the strength of DAS connectivity, and the lower the strength of ECN connectivity. These results provide evidence for large-scale reorganization of functional cortical networks in chronic migraine. They suggest that the severity of headache is associated with opposite connectivity patterns in frontal executive and dorsal attentional networks.

Predictors of allodynia in persons with migraine: Results from the Migraine in America Symptoms and Treatment (MAST) study.

Cutaneous allodynia is a common clinical feature of migraine that has been associated with reduced efficacy of acute migraine treatments and an increased risk of disease progression. Identify factors associated with allodynia in a sample of adults with migraine. An online survey panel was used to identify adults with migraine who averaged at least 1 monthly headache day over the previous 3 months. Data on sociodemographics, headache frequency, headache pain intensity, migraine symptom severity, medication use, depression and anxiety, and cutaneous allodynia (via the Allodynia Symptom Checklist) were obtained. Binary logistic modeling predicted the presence of allodynia. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. In total, 15,133 individuals with migraine met the eligibility criteria. Mean age was 43.1 years, 73.0% were female, and 81.0% were Caucasian. Allodynia was present in 39.9%. The fully adjusted model, controlling for sociodemographics and headache features, demonstrated that allodynia was significantly associated with a higher migraine symptom severity score (odds ratio 1.17, confidence interval 1.15, 1.19) and more severe pain intensity (odds ratio 1.11, confidence interval 1.08, 1.14); probable depression and/or anxiety (odds ratio 1.83, confidence interval 1.67, 2.00); and overuse of acute medication (odds ratio 1.23, confidence interval 1.09, 1.38). A higher number of monthly headache days increased the likelihood of allodynia, but the effect was attenuated in the fully adjusted model. In a representative sample of US adults with migraine, there were significant associations between allodynia and headache frequency and intensity, anxiety and/or depression, symptom severity, and acute medication overuse.

Acute withdrawal and botulinum toxin A in chronic migraine with medication overuse: a double-blind randomized controlled trial.

Botulinum toxin A (BTA) is widely used as treatment of chronic migraine. Efficacy in studies, however, was only modest and likely influenced by unblinding due to BTA-induced removal of forehead wrinkles. Moreover, most study participants were overusing acute headache medications and might have benefitted from withdrawal. We assessed in a double blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial whether add-on therapy with BTA enhances efficacy of acute withdrawal. Participants were enrolled between December 2012 and February 2015, with follow-up to January 2016, in a single academic hospital in the Netherlands. A total of 179 participants, male and female, aged 18-65, diagnosed with chronic migraine and overuse of acute headache medication were included. All participants were instructed to withdraw acutely from all medication for a 12-week period, in an outpatient setting. In addition, they were randomly assigned (1:1) to 31 injections with BTA (155 units) or placebo (saline); to prevent unblinding, placebo-treated participants received low doses of BTA (17.5 units in total) in the forehead, along with saline injections outside the forehead region. Primary endpoint was percentage change in monthly headache days from baseline to the last 4 weeks of double-blind treatment (Weeks 9-12). Among 179 randomized patients, 90 received BTA and 89 received placebo, and 175 (98%) completed the double-blind phase. All 179 patients were included in the intention-to-treat analyses. BTA did not reduce monthly headache days versus placebo (-26.9% versus -20.5%; difference -6.4%; 95% confidence interval: -15.2 to 2.4; P = 0.15). Absolute changes in migraine days at 12 weeks for BTA versus placebo were -6.2 versus -7.0 (difference: 0.8; 95% confidence interval: -1.0 to 2.7; P = 0.38). Other secondary endpoints, including measures for disability and quality of life, did also not differ. Withdrawal was well tolerated and blinding was successful. Thus, in patients with chronic migraine and medication overuse, BTA does not afford any additional benefit over acute withdrawal alone. Acute withdrawal should be tried first before initiating more expensive treatment with BTA.

The American Headache Society Position Statement On Integrating New Migraine Treatments Into Clinical Practice.

To provide healthcare professionals with updated guidance in the use of novel preventive and acute treatments for migraine in adults. The principles of preventive and acute pharmacotherapy for patients with migraine have been outlined previously, but the emergence of new technologies and treatments, as well as new formulations of previously established treatments, has created a need for an updated guidance on the preventive and acute treatment of migraine. This statement is based on a review of existing guidelines and principles for preventive and acute treatment of migraine, as well as the results of recent clinical trials of drugs and devices for these indications. Input was sought from health insurance providers, employers, pharmacy benefit service companies, device manufacturers, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, patients, and patient advocates. Expert clinicians and researchers in the field of headache medicine from across North America and the European Union provided input and feedback. The principles of pharmacologic preventive treatment of migraine with oral treatments have been as follows: use evidence-based treatments when possible and appropriate; start with a low dose and titrate slowly; reach a therapeutic dose if possible; allow for an adequate treatment trial duration; establish expectations of therapeutic response and adverse events; and maximize adherence. Newer injectable treatments may work faster and may not need titration. The principles of acute treatment include: use evidence-based treatments when possible and appropriate; treat early after the onset of a migraine attack; choose a nonoral route of administration for selected patients; account for tolerability and safety issues; consider self-administered rescue treatments; and avoid overuse of acute medications. Neuromodulation and biobehavioral therapy may be appropriate for preventive and acute treatment, depending on the needs of individual patients. Neuromodulation may be useful for patients who prefer nondrug therapies or who respond poorly, cannot tolerate, or have contraindications to pharmacotherapy. This statement updates prior recommendations and outlines the indications for initiating, continuing, combining, and switching preventive and acute treatments of migraine.

Medication-overuse headache detoxification reduces headache disability - the Akershus study of chronic headache.

Medication-overuse headache (MOH) is a chronic headache (≥15 days/month) associated with overuse of acute headache medication. The objective was to investigate headache-related disability before and after self-detoxification from MOH in the general population, as well as possible predictors for successful outcome. This was a prospective cohort study. Participants were identified in a cross-sectional epidemiological sample of 30 000 persons aged 30-44 from the general Norwegian population. People with MOH received short information about the possible role of medication overuse in headache chronification. A total of 108 of the 128 participants (84%) were eligible for follow-up 1.5 years later. Using the Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS), people with MOH in the general population were heavily disabled (mean MIDAS score 42.1, 95% confidence interval 31.7-52.6) with a majority in the severe disability class. The MIDAS score was significantly reduced at follow-up (P < 0.001) for those with successful self-detoxification. In multivariate analyses, co-occurrence of migraine (P = 0.044) and lower headache frequency at baseline (P = 0.001) increased the odds for successful self-detoxification and reversion to episodic headache. Medication-overuse headache causes substantial disability in the general population. Self-detoxification leads to reduced headache frequency and disability, although 24% of the participants did not complete self-detoxification. Detoxification should be offered to MOH patients as early as possible with a focus on headache frequency, disability and psychological distress.

Factors associated with acute medication overuse in people with migraine: results from the 2017 migraine in America symptoms and treatment (MAST) study

BackgroundThe MAST Study is a longitudinal, cross-sectional survey study of US adults with migraine. These analyses were conducted to estimate rates of acute medication overuse (AMO) and determine associations of AMO with individual and headache characteristics.MethodsEligible respondents had ICHD-3-beta migraine, reported ≥3 monthly headache days (MHDs) in the past 3 months, ≥1 MHD in the past 30 days, and currently took acute headache medication. AMO was defined according to ICHD-3-beta thresholds for monthly days of medication taking when diagnosing medication overuse headache.ResultsEligible respondents (N = 13,649) had a mean age of 43.4 ± 13.6 years; most were female (72.9%) and Caucasian (81.9%). Altogether, 15.4% of respondents met criteria for AMO. Compared with those not overusing medications, respondents with AMO were significantly more likely to be taking triptans (31.3% vs 14.2%), opioids (23.8% vs 8.0%), barbiturates (7.8% vs 2.7%), and ergot alkaloids (3.1% vs 0.6%) and significantly less likely to be taking NSAIDs (63.3% vs 69.8%) (p < 0.001 for all comparisons). Respondents with AMO had significantly more MHDs (12.9 ± 8.6 vs 4.3 ± 4.3, p < 0.001); higher migraine symptom severity (17.8 ± 2.7 vs 16.4 ± 3.0, p < 0.001), higher pain intensity scores (7.4 vs 6.5, p < 0.001); and higher rates of cutaneous allodynia (53.7% vs 37.5%, p < 0.001). Adjusted for MHDs, the odds of AMO were increased by each additional year of age (OR 1.02, 95% CI 1.02, 1.03); being married (OR 1.19, 95% CI 1.06, 1.34); smoking (OR 1.54, 95% CI 1.31, 1.81); having psychological symptoms (OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.43, 1.83) or cutaneous allodynia (OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.08, 1.37); and greater migraine symptom severity (OR 1.06, 95% CI 1.04, 1.09) and pain intensity (OR 1.27, 95% CI 1.22, 1.32). Cutaneous allodynia increased the risk of AMO by 61% in males (OR 1.61, 95% CI 1.28, 2.03) but did not increase risk in females (OR 1.08, 95% CI 0.94, 1.25).ConclusionsAMO was present in 15% of respondents with migraine. AMO was associated with higher symptom severity scores, pain intensity, and rates of cutaneous allodynia. AMO was more likely in triptan, opioid, and barbiturate users but less likely in NSAID users. Cutaneous allodynia was associated with AMO in men but not women. This gender difference merits additional exploration.

Factors Associated with Acute Medication Overuse in Persons with Migraine: Results from the 2017 Migraine in America Symptoms and Treatment (MAST) Study (S43.002)

Factors Associated with Acute Medication Overuse in Persons with Migraine: Results from the 2017 Migraine in America Symptoms and Treatment (MAST) Study (S43.002)

The Diagnosis and Management of Chronic Migraine in Primary Care.

Chronic migraine is common, affecting approximately 1% of the general population, and causes significant disability. To summarize optimal involvement of primary care physicians in chronic migraine care, and to provide algorithms to assist them in the diagnosis and management of patients with chronic migraine. An analysis of diagnostic and treatment needs in chronic migraine, based on a synthesis of the medical literature and clinical experience. Chronic migraine represents the more severe end of the migraine spectrum, usually arises out of previous episodic migraine, and is characterized by headache on 15 days a month or more. Importantly, the headache needs to meet migraine diagnostic criteria on only 8 days a month in order to meet chronic migraine diagnostic criteria. When acute medication overuse is present, a second diagnosis of medication overuse headache should be made. If patients meet criteria for chronic migraine, this excludes a diagnosis of chronic tension-type headache. Acute therapy of chronic migraine is similar to episodic migraine, except that medication overuse is a much greater risk in chronic migraine and must be addressed. All patients should be considered for pharmacological prophylaxis, and the behavioral aspects of therapy should be emphasized. The two prophylactic drugs with the best evidence for efficacy in chronic migraine are topiramate and onabotulinumtoxinA. Given the disability caused by chronic migraine, these should both be available to patients as necessary. Management of chronic migraine is complex, and many patients are relatively refractory to therapy. Specialist referral will often be required and should not be unduly delayed. On the other hand, the primary care physician should be able to make the diagnosis, initiate therapy, and manage some less refractory patients without referral. The timing of referral should depend both on the expertise of the primary care physician in headache management and the patient's response to initial therapy.

Real-life data in 115 chronic migraine patients treated with Onabotulinumtoxin A during more than one year.

BackgroundOnabotulinumtoxinA (OnabotA) is effective in Chronic Migraine (CM) during first year of treatment and longer. In real clinical setting, CM patients with acute Medication Overuse (MO) or concurrently receiving oral preventatives are treated with OnabotA. We aim to assess evolution of CM patients beyond first year on OnabotA.MethodsData were retrospectively collected in three headache units. We analyzed cases who had received at least five sessions of OnabotA according to PREEMPT protocol. We continued OnabotA therapy when a reduction of number of headache days of at least 30% was achieved.ResultsWe included 115 patients (98 females, 17 males) who completed 7.6 ± 2.3 (5–13) OnabotA procedures. Previously they had not responded to topiramate and, at least, one other preventative. Age at inclusion was 45.3 ± 12 (14–74) years, and latency between CM onset and OnabotA therapy was 43.1 ± 38.2 (6–166) months. At first OnabotA session 92 patients (80%) fulfilled MO criteria and 107 (93%) received a concurrent oral preventative. In 42 cases (36.5%) OnabotA dose was increased over 155 units. After first year in 57 out of 92 patients (61.9%) MO was discontinued. Among those receiving preventatives, in 52 out of 107 they were retired (48.6%). In 22 cases (19.1%) OnabotA administration was delayed to the fourth or fifth month and in 12 (10.4%) it was temporally stopped. Finally, in 18 patients (15.7%) OnabotA was discontinued due to lack of efficacy beyond first year of treatment.ConclusionOur results suggest that discontinuation of acute medication overuse and oral preventive therapies are achievable objectives in long-term using of OnabotA in CM patients.

Chronic migraine: risk factors, mechanisms and treatment.

Chronic migraine has a great detrimental influence on a patient's life, with a severe impact on socioeconomic functioning and quality of life. Chronic migraine affects 1-2% of the general population, and about 8% of patients with migraine; it usually develops from episodic migraine at an annual conversion rate of about 3%. The chronification is reversible: about 26% of patients with chronic migraine go into remission within 2 years of chronification. The most important modifiable risk factors for chronic migraine include overuse of acute migraine medication, ineffective acute treatment, obesity, depression and stressful life events. Moreover, age, female sex and low educational status increase the risk of chronic migraine. The pathophysiology of migraine chronification can be understood as a threshold problem: certain predisposing factors, combined with frequent headache pain, lower the threshold of migraine attacks, thereby increasing the risk of chronic migraine. Treatment options include oral medications, nerve blockade with local anaesthetics or corticoids, and neuromodulation. Well-defined diagnostic criteria are crucial for the identification of chronic migraine. The International Headache Society classification of chronic migraine was recently updated, and now allows co-diagnosis of chronic migraine and medication overuse headache. This Review provides an up-to-date overview of the classification of chronic migraine, basic mechanisms and risk factors of migraine chronification, and the currently established treatment options.

Medication overuse headache in Europe and Latin America: general demographic and clinical characteristics, referral pathways and national distribution of painkillers in a descriptive, multinational, multicenter study.

BackgroundMedication overuse headache (MOH) is a very disabling and costly disorder due to indirect costs, medication and healthcare utilization. The aim of the study was to describe general demographic and clinical characteristics of MOH, along with the national referral pathways and national painkillers distribution in several European and Latin American (LA) Countries.MethodsThis descriptive cross-sectional observational study included 669 patients with MOH referred to headache-centers in Europe and LA as a part of the COMOESTAS project. Information about acute medication and healthcare utilization were collected by extensive questionnaires, supplemented with structured patient interviews.ResultsTriptans were overused by 31 % European patients and by 6 % in LA (p < 0.001), whereas ergotamines were overused by 4 % in Europe and 72 % in LA (p < 0.001). Simple analgesics were overused by 54 % in Europe and by 33 % in LA (p < 0.001), while combination-analgesics were more equally overused (24 % in Europe and 29 % in LA). More European patients (57 %) compared with LA patients (27 %) visited general practitioners (p < 0.001), and 83 % of European patients compared to 38 % in LA consulted headache specialists (p < 0.001). A total of 20 % in Europe and 30 % in LA visited emergency rooms (p = 0.007).ConclusionThere are marked variations between LA and Europe in healthcare pathways and in acute medication overuse regarding patients with MOH. This should be considered when planning prevention campaigns against MOH.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s10194-016-0612-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Chapter 16 - Migraine

This chapter presents an overview of migraine epidemiology and mechanisms. Migraine is a common and disabling neurologic disorder characterized by episodic attacks of severe head pain and other symptoms, including interference with activity, nausea, and sensitivity to light and sound. A number of risk factors for migraine onset and progression have been identified, including the presence of comorbid disorders and overuse of acute headache medications. Though the pathophysiology of migraine is complex and incompletely understood, advances in genetics research and clinical trials methodology offer promise for better understanding the underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms. These advances presently center on genomewide studies, development of antibodies targeting calcitonin gene-related peptide, and understanding the psychologic mechanisms that underlie the efficacy of some interventions. Studies of both pharmacologic and behavioral interventions for migraine and its common comorbidities also offer promise for understanding the neuroepidemiologic mechanisms of migraine. Clinical trials relevant to these mechanisms are reviewed, and methodologic considerations for future trials are discussed.

Nucleus accumbens functional connectivity discriminates medication-overuse headache.

Medication-overuse headache (MOH) is a secondary form of headache related to the overuse of triptans, analgesics and other acute headache medications. It is believed that MOH and substance addiction share some similar pathophysiological mechanisms. In this study we examined the whole brain resting state functional connectivity of the dorsal and ventral striatum in 30 patients (15 MOH and 15 non-MOH patients) to investigate if classification algorithms can successfully discriminate between MOH and non-MOH patients on the basis of the spatial pattern of resting state functional connectivity of the dorsal and ventral striatal region of interest. Our results indicated that both nucleus accumbens and dorsal rostral putamen functional connectivity could discriminate between MOH and non-MOH patients, thereby providing possible support to two interpretations. First, that MOH patients show altered reward functionality in line with drug abusers (alterations in functional connectivity of the nucleus accumbens). Second, that MOH patients show inability to break habitual behavior (alterations in functional connectivity of the dorsal striatum). In conclusion, our data showed that MOH patients were characterized by an altered functional connectivity of motivational circuits at rest. These differences could permit the blind discrimination between the two conditions using classification algorithms. Considered overall, our findings might contribute to the development of novel diagnostic measures.

Risk Factors for and Management of Medication-Overuse Headache.

This review focuses on patients with migraine who frequently use acute medications. Chronic migraine and medication-overuse headache are common in the general population and often coexist. According to new diagnostic criteria, both diagnoses can be made for an individual patient. Evidence is slowly emerging on the most appropriate management approach for both disorders. Although the relationship of the primary headache disorder and the pattern of overuse varies, medication-overuse headache is a secondary disorder attributable to the overuse of acute medications. While distinguishing chronic migraine and medication-overuse headache may not always be possible, treatment approaches are similar for the two disorders.

OnabotulinumtoxinA for treatment of chronic migraine: PREEMPT 24-week pooled subgroup analysis of patients who had acute headache medication overuse at baseline

Acute headache medication overuse (MO) is common in patients with chronic migraine (CM). We evaluated safety and efficacy of onabotulinumtoxinA as preventive treatment of headache in CM patients with baseline MO (CM+MO) in a planned secondary analysis from two similarly designed, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel, Phase III trials. Patients were randomized to treatment groups (155–195U of onabotulinumtoxinA or placebo) using MO (patient-reported and diary-captured frequency of intake) as a stratifying variable. Of 1384 patients, 65.3% (n=904) met MO criteria (onabotulinumtoxinA: n=445, placebo: n=459). For the CM+MO subgroup at Week 24, statistically significant between-treatment group mean changes from baseline favoring onabotulinumtoxinA versus placebo were observed for headache days (primary endpoint: −8.2 vs. −6.2; p<0.001) and other secondary endpoints: frequencies of migraine days (p<0.001), moderate/severe headache days (p<0.001), cumulative headache hours on headache days (p<0.001), headache episodes (p=0.028), and migraine episodes (p=0.018) and the percentage of patients with severe Headache Impact Test-6 category (p<0.001). At Week 24, change from baseline in frequency of acute headache medication intakes (secondary endpoint) was not statistically significant (p=0.210) between groups, except for triptan intakes (p<0.001), where the onabotulinumtoxinA-treated group was favored. OnabotulinumtoxinA was effective and well tolerated as headache prophylaxis in CM+MO patients.

Holding on to the indispensable medication –A grounded theory on medication use from the perspective of persons with medication overuse headache

BackgroundMedication overuse headache (MOH) is a chronic headache disorder, caused by overuse of acute medication. To date, it remains unclear why some people overuse these medications. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore how individuals with MOH use medications and other strategies to manage headaches in their daily lives, and their thoughts about their own use of acute medication. Our intention was to develop a theoretical model about the development of MOH, from the perspective of those with MOH.MethodsData collection and analysis were conducted according to grounded theory methodology. The participants were recruited via newspaper advertisements. Fourteen persons with MOH were interviewed in individual qualitative interviews.ResultsThe basic process leading to medication overuse was holding on to the indispensable medication. The acute medication was indispensable to the participants because they perceived it as the only thing that could prevent headaches from ruining their lives. The participants perceived headaches as something that threatened to ruin their lives. As a result, they went to great lengths trying to find ways to manage it. They tried numerous strategies. However, the only strategy actually perceived as effective was the use of acute medication and they eventually became resigned to the idea that it was the only effective aid. The acute medication thus became indispensable. Their general intention was to use as little medication as possible but they found themselves compelled to medicate frequently to cope with their headaches. They did not like to think about their medication use and sometimes avoided keeping track of the amount used.ConclusionsThis qualitative study adds understanding to the process via which MOH develops from the perspective of those having MOH. Such knowledge may help bridge the gap between the perspectives of patients and health-care professionals.