Treatment of migraine and the role of psychiatric medications

Abstract

Over the past year, there were approximately 5.5 million patients treated for migraine. Approximately 50 percent of migraine patients are treated by primary care physicians and an additional 21 percent are treated by neurologists. Psychiatrists play a small role in the treatment of migraine, and they treat only slightly more than one percent of migraine patients. 5HT-1 agonists represent 42 percent of migraine treatment. Pain products (both narcotic and non-narcotic) and antiepileptics account for an additional 21 percent and 13 percent of migraine therapy treatments, respectively. Psychiatric medications, such as tricyclic antidepressants, are not commonly used in the treatment of migraine (3.5% of medication uses). A discussion of data is provided.

Keywords: comorbidity; migraine; pharmacotherapy; psychiatry.

FIGURE 1.

Specialty mix for treatment of migraine (5.5 million patients) Source: SDI Health VONA, Migraine (ICD-9 Diagnosis Code, 346), August 2007 to July 2008.

FIGURE 2.

Treatment of migraine—Includes treatments accounting for at least 1% of migraine therapies; KEY: BBs/CCBs=beta blockers/calcium channel blockers; TCAs=tricyclic antidepressants Source: SDI Health PDDA, Migraine (ICD-9 diagnosis 346) August 2007 to July 2008.