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Efficacy of Duloxetine as a Migraine Preventive Medication: Possible Predictors of Response in a Retrospective Chart Review
Author(s) -
Taylor Anne P.,
Adelman James U.,
Freeman Marshall C.
Publication year - 2007
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 - 10.1111/j.1526-4610.2007.00886.x
Subject(s) - duloxetine , medicine , migraine , depression (economics) , duloxetine hydrochloride , retrospective cohort study , medical record , anxiety , anesthesia , psychiatry , alternative medicine , pathology , economics , macroeconomics
Objective.—This case series is a retrospective chart analysis conducted to evaluate the efficacy of duloxetine as a migraine preventive medication and to suggest possible predictors of response. Background.— Duloxetine, a relatively new selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor, is FDA‐approved for treatment of depression and diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain. The efficacy of duloxetine as a headache preventive medication is currently unknown. Method.—A retrospective chart review was performed using the electronic medical records of Headache Wellness Center, a headache specialty practice in Greensboro, North Carolina. From January 2004 to December 2006, 65 patients were identified who were prescribed duloxetine for migraine prevention for at least 2 months. Doses ranged from 30 mg qd to 90 mg qd. Frequency, severity, and impact of migraine disability were measured at baseline and compared to values obtained after 2 months of treatment. Results.—The total patient sample demonstrated a reduction in mean monthly headache frequency from 19.40 (SD=7.1) to 15.70 (SD=8.2) ( P = .01). The 50% responder rate was 22%. In subset analysis, individuals with abnormal baseline Zung anxiety scores demonstrated a greater reduction in mean monthly headache frequency (4.28, P = .03) and a greater responder rate (25%) than those in the total patient sample. Non‐statistically significant trends were observed in those patients with abnormal baseline Zung Depression scores exhibiting a less robust mean monthly migraine reduction (2.75, P = .18) than those with normal baseline depression scores (3.42, P = .07). Conclusions.—Duloxetine demonstrates minimal effectiveness as a headache preventive medication. An interesting trend suggests that the presence of anxiety may be a positive predictor in treatment with duloxetine.