The results of a new study in women 18 to 35 years of age show that lack of communications between patients and doctors may needlessly prolong the pain and disability of migraine through continued use of ineffective, non-specific medications.

In the study, which surveyed 1,810 women from nine countries, more than 80 percent of patients saw their doctor in the past year, but only half discussed their migraine attacks with the doctor. In addition, only 40 percent were comfortable talking to their doctor about the condition.

"As with many conditions, the survey showed that the majority of patients reported that they had to initiate discussions with their physicians," said Dr Smuts, a local neurologist. "Despite the availability of fast, effective and more convenient medications for this painful disorder, many people with migraine will not benefit from treatment advances if they don't revisit their doctor to discuss their ongoing symptoms."

MELT Study Sampling1
Saw doctor in the last year 81%
Initiated conversations about migraine (Patient) 71%
My doctor understands how much severe headaches or migraine interfere with my life 61%
Spoke with doctor about migraine in the past year 50%
Very comfortable speaking with doctor about migraine 41%

Patients also reported that when doctor-patient discussion did occur, doctors were much more likely to prescribe a migraine-specific treatment, according to Dr Smuts.

About Migraine
Migraine is estimated to affect 18 percent of women and predominantly affects people in their working years. Migraines are not just ordinary headaches. They are a complex group of symptoms characterized by unpredictable attacks of typically moderate to severe, usually one-sided, throbbing headaches.

Attacks generally last from 4 to 72 hours and are accompanied by nausea and sensitivity to sound and light. Only about 15 percent of migraine sufferers experience aura (visual, sensory or motor symptoms such as flashing lights, zigzag patterns, weakness or numbness that precede the onset of headache).

Many patients prolong the pain and disability of migraine through continued use of ineffective, non-specific medications. Recent comparative studies demonstrate that patients achieved significantly faster, all-day pain relief and returned to normal function more rapidly with migraine specific medications (known as triptans) when compared to alternative therapies such as analgesics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and ergotamines.

For more information on migraine, visit www.mymigraine.co.za. You can also complete the online questionnaire which will help you in finding out whether or not your headache is a migraine and then see your doctor for help.

Reference 1 A multinational study of migraine treatment patterns amongst young, active women; The Migraine Effect on Life and Treatment Study (MELT) October 2003

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