Switching patients with migraine from sumatriptan to other triptans increases primary care costs

International Journal of Clinical Practice
N SavaniD Browning

Abstract

Treatment of migraine with triptans is highly effective, although cost considerations may prompt a change in therapy. This retrospective database analysis of 3196 patients with migraine, established on sumatriptan therapy, found that 54% of the 292 experiencing a triptan switch returned to sumatriptan within 15 months, suggesting that the alternative was less acceptable. Excluding patients with unusually high use of triptans (> or = 208 tablets/year), switching therapy resulted in a significant increase of pounds sterling 53/patient in total costs, compared with patients continuing on sumatriptan (p = 0.014). Cost savings (pounds sterling 17/patient over 15 months) were observed only among the 41% of patients in whom the initial switch was successful and did not result in a further switch or return to sumatriptan. Among patients who were relatively low cost initially, switching resulted in increased costs, irrespective of the outcome. This study suggests that there is no economic justification for switching from sumatriptan to another triptan.

References

Oct 26, 2001·Current Pain and Headache Reports·H C Diener, Z Katasarva
Jan 25, 2002·The New England Journal of Medicine·Peter J GoadsbyMichel D Ferrari
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Dec 19, 2002·Current Medical Research and Opinion·A J DowsonUNKNOWN MIPCA Migraine Guidelines Development Group. Migraine In Primary Care Advisors

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Citations

Sep 8, 2009·Cephalalgia : an International Journal of Headache·A PanconesiR Banfi
Jun 11, 2014·Headache·Andrew J MessaliShashidhar H Kori
Oct 13, 2009·Headache·Bozena J KatićMarcelo E Bigal
Apr 7, 2005·Current Medical Research and Opinion·A J DowsonK Gruffydd-Jones
Apr 15, 2015·The Journal of Headache and Pain·Mattias LindeDan Chisholm
Oct 13, 2010·Cephalalgia : an International Journal of Headache·Bozena J KatićX Henry Hu
Sep 5, 2014·The Clinical Journal of Pain·Jun WuZ Kevin Lu
Mar 7, 2020·Cephalalgia : an International Journal of Headache·Richard B LiptonJalpa A Doshi

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