Prophylaxis of menstrual migraine with triptans: problems and possibilities

Abstract

Menstruation is a prominent, predictable attack trigger for many women with migraine. If abortive therapy of menstrual attacks is ineffective, prophylactic therapy is used to prevent attacks or render them shorter and less resistant to acute therapy. Interest is increasing in the use of triptan medications for the prophylaxis of menstrual migraine, and clinical trials to evaluate this approach are underway. Potential problems with triptan prophylaxis of menstrual migraine that deserve attention include the lack of consensus on the definition of menstrual migraine and the difficulty in making a reliable diagnosis of the disorder. Unconvincing demonstrations of efficacy and unresolved cost and safety concerns should temper enthusiasm for their use in this manner. Further studies, using a consistent definition of menstrual association and employing diary validation of the diagnosis, are needed to determine the efficacy of the triptans in women who consistently experience migraine attacks associated with menstruation. Triptans would have to show compelling advantages over other therapy to be a plausible prophylactic treatment for menstrual migraine.