Karolis Kluonaitis1, Elena Petrauskiene2, Kristina Ryliskiene3. 1. Karolis Kluonaitis, Vilnius University, Faculty of Medicine, M.K. Ciurlionio 21, 03101 Vilnius, Lithuania. Electronic address: kkluonaitis@gmail.com. 2. Elena Petrauskiene, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Department of Family Medicine, A. Mickeviciaus 9, 44307, Kaunas, Lithuania. Electronic address: elena.brazenaite@gmail.com. 3. Kristina Ryliskiene,Vilnius University, Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Center for Neurology, Santariskiu 2, 08661, Vilnius, Lithuania. Electronic address: ryliskiene.k@gmail.com.
Abstract
According to Eurolight project's results, frequency of medication overuse headache in Lithuania is similar to other European countries. However, data on the characteristics of the disorder is lacking. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to analyze clinical characteristics and overuse patterns of patients with medication overuse headache. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective study was conducted in out-patient department of university hospital. 57.0% of the patients were from Vilnius and 43.0% from other cities and districts of Lithuania. Medical histories of patients consulted by headache specialist on private (86.2%) or public basis from 2008 to 2015 were analyzed. Diagnoses prior to 2013 were revised according to ICHD-III beta criteria. Overuse patterns were calculated only for patients with migraine. RESULTS: 87 patients (90.8% female) with mean age of 43.78 years were included in the study and 67 of them had primary diagnosis of migraine. Mean duration of overuse was 4.00 years. Mean headache frequency was 24.11days per month. Triptans more often were overused by younger patients (p=0.049). 41.8% of migraine patients with MOH overused triptans, 38.8% simple, and 38.8% combination-analgesics. 1 (1.5%) patient overused ergotamines, 7.5% were poly-overusers and no pure opioid overuse was found. Among patients with migraine most common overused medications were sumatriptan (38.8%), caffeine containing combination-analgesics (35.8%) and ibuprofen (20.9%). CONCLUSION: Triptans were most commonly overused drugs among patients with migraine. Fairly frequent overuse of combination-analgesics for migraine should raise concern.
According to Eurolight project's results, frequency of medication overuse headache in Lithuania is similar to other European countries. However, data on the characteristics of the disorder is lacking. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to analyze clinical characteristics and overuse patterns of patients with medication overuse headache. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective study was conducted in out-patient department of university hospital. 57.0% of the patients were from Vilnius and 43.0% from other cities and districts of Lithuania. Medical histories of patients consulted by headache specialist on private (86.2%) or public basis from 2008 to 2015 were analyzed. Diagnoses prior to 2013 were revised according to ICHD-III beta criteria. Overuse patterns were calculated only for patients with migraine. RESULTS: 87 patients (90.8% female) with mean age of 43.78 years were included in the study and 67 of them had primary diagnosis of migraine. Mean duration of overuse was 4.00 years. Mean headache frequency was 24.11days per month. Triptans more often were overused by younger patients (p=0.049). 41.8% of migrainepatients with MOH overused triptans, 38.8% simple, and 38.8% combination-analgesics. 1 (1.5%) patient overused ergotamines, 7.5% were poly-overusers and no pure opioid overuse was found. Among patients with migraine most common overused medications were sumatriptan (38.8%), caffeine containing combination-analgesics (35.8%) and ibuprofen (20.9%). CONCLUSION:Triptans were most commonly overused drugs among patients with migraine. Fairly frequent overuse of combination-analgesics for migraine should raise concern.