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An Analysis of the “Carry‐over Effect” Following Successful Short‐term Treatment of Transformed Migraine With Divalproex Sodium
Author(s) -
Rothrock John F.,
Mendizabal Jorge E.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
headache: the journal of head and face pain
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.14
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1526-4610
pISSN - 0017-8748
DOI - 10.1046/j.1526-4610.2000.00002.x
Subject(s) - migraine , term (time) , carry (investment) , divalproex , sodium , medicine , anesthesia , psychiatry , chemistry , bipolar disorder , mood , physics , business , mania , organic chemistry , finance , quantum mechanics
Objective.– To determine whether successful short‐term prophylactic treatment of transformed migraine may be followed by a continued respite from headaches once the treatment has been discontinued (“carry‐over effect”). Background.– The optimal duration of prophylactic treatment for pervasive headache and for migraine, in particular, is unknown. Methods.– We prospectively evaluated a series of patients with transformed migraine, all of whom were managed according to a uniform treatment protocol involving prophylactic therapy with divalproex sodium for a period not exceeding 12 weeks. All patients reporting a positive treatment response were followed for at least 2 months after the discontinuation of divalproex sodium, and the incidence of the carry‐over effect in that group was assessed. Results.– A short‐term carry‐over effect occurred in 12 (60%) of 20 patients, but more sustained relief occurred in only 8 (40%). Conclusions.– The successful short‐term treatment of transformed migraine with divalproex sodium will often produce a short‐term carry‐over effect, but this response will be sustained only in a minority of patients.