Topiramate as an Adjunctive Treatment in Migraine Prophylaxis

[Migraine prophylaxis-all just antibodies? : Medical and nonmedical migraine preventive treatment in times of CGRP antibodies]

BACKGROUND

Migraine is a frequently underdiagnosed disease that is associated with a high burden on affected patients. There are a variety of prophylactic treatment options available, that have been expanded with the introduction of the CGRP-(receptor-)antibodies.

OBJECTIVES

Status of pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic preventive treatment in migraine therapy.

METHODS

Analysis and evaluation of internationally published articles concerning preventive treatment of episodic and chronic migraine.

RESULTS

There are many approved medications for migraine prophylaxis with different evidence. The possibilities were further expanded with CGRP antibodies. Comparative studies of the new antibodies with previous prophylactic drugs have not yet been published, so it's unclear whether the antibodies are therapeutically superior. What should be emphasized is their rapid onset of action and their good tolerance. Basically, an individual choice of prophylaxis, which is based on affectedness, comorbidities and comedication, makes sense. In addition, a combination with nondrug measures is always mandatory.

CONCLUSIONS

A variety of medicinal and non-medicinal measures are available for the treatment of migraine, which should be used multimodally.

Treatment of migraine attacks and prevention of migraine: Guidelines by the German Migraine and Headache Society and the German Society of Neurology

In collaboration with some of the leading headache centres in Germany, Switzerland and Austria, we have established new guidelines for the treatment of migraine attacks and the prevention of migraine. A thorough literature research of the last 10 years has been the basis of the current recommendations. At the beginning, we present therapeutic novelties, followed by a summary of all recommendations. After an introduction, we cover topics like drug therapy and practical experience, non-effective medication, migraine prevention, interventional methods, non-medicational and psychological methods for prevention and therapies without proof of efficacy.

sec-Butylpropylacetamide (SPD) has antimigraine properties

BACKGROUND

Though migraine is disabling and affects 12%-15% of the population, there are few drugs that have been developed specifically for migraine prevention. Valproic acid (VPA) is a broad-spectrum antiepileptic drug (AED) that is also used for migraine prophylaxis, but its clinical use is limited by its side effect profile. sec-Butylpropylacetamide (SPD) is a novel VPA derivative, designed to be more potent and tolerable than VPA, that has shown efficacy in animal seizure and pain models.

METHODS

We evaluated SPD's antimigraine potential in the cortical spreading depression (CSD) and nitroglycerin (NTG) models of migraine. To evaluate SPD's mechanism of action, we performed whole-cell recordings on cultured cortical neurons and neuroblastoma cells.

RESULTS

In the CSD model, the SPD-treated group showed a significantly lower median number of CSDs compared to controls. In the NTG-induced mechanical allodynia model, SPD dose-dependently reduced mechanical sensitivity compared to controls. SPD showed both a significant potentiation of GABA-mediated currents and a smaller but significant decrease in NMDA currents in cultured cortical neurons. Kainic acid-evoked currents and voltage-dependent sodium channel currents were not changed by SPD.

CONCLUSIONS

These results demonstrate SPD's potential as a promising novel antimigraine compound, and suggest a GABAergic mechanism of action.

Topiramate for the treatment of epilepsy and other nervous system disorders

Initially synthesized as an oral hypoglycemic agent, topiramate was approved for use as an anticonvulsant in 1996. Its broad spectrum efficacy in epilepsy, including as monotherapy and in children, is well established. Topiramate has also been used in the management of nonepileptic neurologic and psychiatric conditions, including migraine prophylaxis (with firmly established efficacy), obesity (with some evidence of long-term maintenance of weight loss), substance dependence, bipolar disorder and neuropathic pain, and it has been investigated as a possible neuroprotective agent. Paresthesias and cognitive side effects are the most common troublesome adverse effects. Recent trends towards lower doses may help achieve the best combination of efficacy and tolerability.

Recent progress in migraine pathophysiology: role of cortical spreading depression and magnetic resonance imaging

Migraine is characterised by debilitating pain, which affects the quality of life in affected patients in both the western and the eastern worlds. The purpose of this article is to give a detailed outline of the pathophysiology of migraine pain, which is one of the most confounding pathologies among pain disorders in clinical conditions. We critically evaluate the scientific basis of various theories concerning migraine pathophysiology, and draw insights from brain imaging approaches that have unraveled the prevalence of cortical spreading depression (CSD) in migraine. The findings supporting the role of CSD as a physiological substrate in clinical pain are discussed. We also give an exhaustive overview of brain imaging approaches that have been employed to solve the genesis of migraine pain, and its possible links to the brainstem, the neocortex, genetic endophenotypes, and pathogenetic factors (such as dopaminergic hypersensitivity). Furthermore, a roadmap is proposed to provide a better understanding of pain pathophysiology in migraine, to enable the development of strategies using leads from brain imaging studies for the identification of early biomarkers, efficient prognosis, and treatment planning, which eventually may help in alleviating some of the devastating impact of pain morbidity in patients afflicted with migraine.

Pharmacologic treatment of pediatric headaches: a meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE To assess the effectiveness of prophylactic headache treatment in children and adolescents. DATA SOURCES PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Database of Clinical Trials, and bibliography of retrieved articles through August 11, 2012. STUDY SELECTION Randomized trials of headache treatment among children and adolescents (<18 years old). INTERVENTION Any placebo-controlled trial or comparisons between 2 or more active medications. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Number of headaches per month. RESULTS Among 21 included trials, there were 13 placebo-controlled and 10 active comparator trials (2 also included placebo). Twenty trials focused on episodic migraines and 1 on chronic daily headaches. Drugs more effective than placebo for episodic migraines (<15 headaches per month) included topiramate (difference in headaches per month, -0.71; 95% CI, -1.19 to -0.24) and trazodone (-0.60; 95% CI, -1.09 to -0.11). Ineffective drugs included clonidine, flunarizine, pizotifen, propranolol, and valproate. A single trial of fluoxetine for chronic daily headaches found it ineffective. Patients given placebo experienced a significant (P = .03) decline in headaches, from 5.6 (95% CI, 4.52-6.77; Q = 8.14 [Cochran Q is a measure of the heterogeneity of the included studies]) to 2.9 headaches per month (95% CI, 1.66-4.08; Q = 4.72). Among the 10 active comparator trials, flunarizine was more effective than piracetam (difference in headaches per month, -2.20; 95% CI, -3.93 to -0.47) but no better than aspirin, dihydroergotamine, or propranolol. Propranolol was compared with valproate as well as behavioral treatment, and 2 studies compared different doses of topiramate; none of these trials showed significant differences. CONCLUSIONS Topiramate and trazodone have limited evidence supporting efficacy for episodic migraines. Placebo was effective in reducing headaches. Other commonly used drugs have no evidence supporting their use in children and adolescents. More research is needed.

Clinical pharmacology of topiramate in migraine prevention

INTRODUCTION

Migraine is a widespread disorder. Migraine patients experience worse health-related quality of life than the general population. The availability of effective and tolerable treatments for this disorder is an important medical need. This narrative review focuses on the clinical pharmacology of topiramate, an antiepileptic drug that was approved for the prophylaxis of migraine where it should act as a neuromodulator.

AREAS COVERED

A PubMed database search (from 2000 to 24 January 2011) and a review of the human studies published on topiramate and migraine was conducted.

EXPERT OPINION

Topiramate is an important option for the prophylaxis of migraine and is of proven efficacy and tolerability. It has also been studied in chronic migraine with encouraging results, even in patients with medication overuse. However, in migraine prevention its efficacy is comparable to the other first-line drugs and there are no published trials with a superiority design which can establish topiramate's role in the available therapeutic armamentarium.

Patient outcome in migraine prophylaxis: the role of psychopharmacological agents

INTRODUCTION

Migraine is a serious illness that needs correct treatment for acute attacks and, in addition, a treatment prophylaxis, since patients with migraine suffer during acute attacks and also between attacks.

METHODS

A systematic review of the most relevant clinical trials of migraine headache and its epidemiology, pathophysiology, comorbidity, and prophylactic treatment (medical and nonmedical) was carried out using "Medline" and "PsychINFO" from 1973 to 2009. Approximately 110 trials met our inclusion criteria and were included in the current review.

RESULTS

The most effective pharmacological treatment for migraine prophylaxis is propranolol and anticonvulsants such as topiramate, valproic acid, and amitriptyline. Nonmedical treatments such as acupuncture, biofeedback, and melatonin have also been proposed. Peripheral neurostimulation has been suggested for the treatment of chronic daily headache that does not respond to prophylaxis and for the treatment of drug-resistant primary headache. The majority of the pharmacological agents available today have limited efficacy and may cause adverse effects incompatible with long-term use.

LIMITATIONS

The review was limited by the highly variable and often insufficient reporting of the complex outcome data and by the fact that migraine prophylaxis trials typically use headache diaries to monitor the course of the disease. The results of the different studies were also presented in different ways, making comparison of the results difficult.

DISCUSSION

An adequate prophylaxis is crucial in reducing disability and preventing the evolution of the problem into a chronic progressive illness. The implications of the present findings were discussed.

Role of antiepileptic drugs as preventive agents for migraine

Migraine is a common neurological disease affecting about 12% of the population in Western Europe and North America, and causing a considerable burden both to migraineurs and to society. Severe, frequent and disabling migraine attacks, as well as those poorly responsive to acute care medication, require preventive treatment, which is often under-utilized. Antiepileptic drugs are used in the prevention of migraine. We performed a literature search of PubMed through June 2008 for controlled trials of antiepileptic drugs in the prevention of migraine. The search identified 70 papers for a full-text review. The majority of these papers referred to valproate and topiramate, and showed that these drugs are effective and well tolerated in migraine prevention and are suitable for first-line clinical use. On the other hand, acetazolamide, lamotrigine, oxcarbazepine and vigabatrin have been shown to be not effective and gabapentin requires further evaluation. For the rest of the antiepileptic drugs, no data from controlled trials are available.

A double-blind, randomized trial of low-dose topiramate vs propranolol in migraine prophylaxis

OBJECTIVE

To assess the efficacy and safety of low-dose topiramate in migraine prophylaxis vs propranolol.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A randomized, double-blind, clinical trial including 62 patients with frequent migraine headaches (> or = 3 attacks per month) was performed for a period of 8 weeks. The patients were randomly divided into two treatment groups - treated by topiramate 50 mg/day and propranolol 80 mg/day, respectively. The patients were assessed at 0, 4, and 8 weeks of the study. Results - The topiramate group showed a reduction in the mean (+/-SD) of monthly migraine frequency from 6.07 (+/-1.89) to 1.83 (+/-1.39) episodes per month, headache intensity from 7.1 (+/-1.45) to 3.67 (+/-2.1) based on the Visual Analog Scale, and headache duration from 16.37 (+/-7.26) to 6.23 (+/-5.22) hours (P < 0.001). In the patients treated with propranolol, the mean (+/-SD) of monthly headache frequency declined from 5.83 (+/-1.98) to 2.2 (+/-1.67) per month, headache intensity lessened from 6.43 (+/-1.6) to 4.13 (+/-1.94) and headache duration decreased from 15.10 (+/-6.84) to 7.27 (+/-6.46) h (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated that both low-dose topiramate and propranolol could significantly reduce migraine headache frequency, intensity, and duration. However, compared with propranolol, low-dose topiramate showed better results.

Optimizing prophylactic treatment of migraine: Subtypes and patient matching

Advances in our understanding of the pathophysiology of migraine have resulted in important breakthroughs in treatment. For example, understanding of the role of serotonin in the cerebrovascular circulation has led to the development of triptans for the acute relief of migraine headaches, and the identification of cortical spreading depression as an early central event associated wih migraine has brought renewed interest in antiepileptic drugs for migraine prophylaxis. However, migraine still remains inadequately treated. Indeed, it is apparent that migraine is not a single disease but rather a syndrome that can manifest itself in a variety of pathological conditions. The consequences of this may be that treatment needs to be matched to particular patients. Clinical research needs to be devoted to identifying which sort of patients benefit best from which treatments, particularly in the field of prophylaxis. We propose four patterns of precipitating factors (adrenergic, serotoninergic, menstrual, and muscular) which may be used to structure migraine prophylaxis. Finally, little is known about long-term outcome in treated migraine. It is possible that appropriate early prophylaxis may modify the long-term course of the disease and avoid late complications.

Topiramate for migraine prophylaxis

Topiramate is one of several antiepileptic drugs that are used in the prevention of migraine, but the only one licensed for use in the UK. Topiramate has an extensive evidence base provided by double-blind, placebo-controlled trials to show that it is a safe, effective and well tolerated drug in the management of migraine. It has also been shown to have a role in the management of chronic migraine, which represents a challenge to primary care clinicians as well as headache specialists. Studies have demonstrated that topiramate can also be effective in preventing migraine in childhood and adolescence, although this is unlicensed in the UK. It has been shown in models both in the US and the UK to offer a cost benefit when direct and indirect costs are evaluated by reducing work loss, improving quality of life and reducing the use of increasingly scarce health resources.

Topiramate in the prophylaxis of pediatric migraine: a double-blind placebo-controlled trial

Several large, randomized controlled trials have demonstrated the efficacy of topiramate in migraine prophylaxis in adults. However, there are limited data about the use of topiramate in migraine prophylaxis in children. We conducted this single-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy and safety of topiramate in the prophylaxis of migraine in children. A total of 44 children with migraine were randomized using random number tables to receive topiramate (n = 22) or placebo (n = 22). The total duration of treatment was 4 months, including a baseline period of 1 month during which topiramate was titrated weekly in 25-mg increments to 100 mg/d in 2 divided doses or to the maximum tolerated dose. The titration was followed by a 12-week maintenance phase during which topiramate was given in 2 divided doses. The primary outcome measures were the reduction in the mean migraine frequency and severity of headache. Secondary outcome measures included the number of times analgesics were required for a month for acute attacks and functional disability. Functional disability was measured by comparing school absenteeism and Pediatric Migraine Disability Assessment Scale (PedMIDAS). The decrease in mean (+/-SD) monthly migraine frequency from 16.14 (+/-9.35) at baseline to 4.27 (+/-1.95) at the end of the study in the topiramate group was significantly greater as compared with a decrease from 13.38 (+/-7.78) to 7.48 (+/-5.94) at the end of the study in the placebo group (P = .025). The difference in number of rescue medications used for topiramate and placebo was not statistically significant (P = .059). There was a statistically significant decrease in the PedMIDAS score from 50.66 (+/-32.1) to 10.42 (+/-6.39) at the end of the study in the topiramate group compared with a decrease from 42.66 (+/-27.5) to 23.7 (+/-19.1) at the end of 4 months in the placebo group (P = .003). The decrease in school absenteeism was significant with topiramate compared with placebo (P = .002). Weight loss, decreased concentration in school, sedation, and parasthesias were important side effects with topiramate. Most of these side effects were mild to moderate and were not significant enough to cause dropout from the study.

Antiepileptic drugs in migraine: from clinical aspects to cellular mechanisms

Migraine and epilepsy share several clinical features, and epilepsy is a comorbid condition of migraine. Clinical studies have shown that some antiepileptic drugs are effective at preventing migraine attacks. A rationale for their use in migraine prophylaxis is the hypothesis that migraine and epilepsy share several common pathogenetic mechanisms. An imbalance between excitatory glutamate-mediated transmission and GABA-mediated inhibition in specific brain areas has been postulated in these two pathological conditions. Moreover, abnormal activation of voltage-operated ionic channels has been implicated in both migraine and epilepsy. Cortical spreading depression has been found to be involved in the pathophysiology of epilepsy, in addition to the generation of migraine aura.

Topiramate prescribing patterns among medicaid patients: Diagnosis, comorbidities, and dosing

BACKGROUND

Routine clinical practice data are useful for payers and formulary decision makers to make sound decisions regarding coverage policy. Based on a literature search, there has been scant research into topiramate prescribing patterns among Medicaid patients.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to describe diagnoses, demographic characteristics, additional co-existing diagnoses, and dosing among Medicaid patients prescribed topiramate.

METHODS

This descriptive, retrospective database analysis used data from South Carolina (SC) and Texas (TX) ambulatory Medicaid claims dated October 1, 2003, to December 31, 2004. Patients whose data were eligible for inclusion in the study were enrolled in Medicaid during the study period, had >or=2 topiramate prescriptions, were aged <65 years, and had evidence of a topiramate treatment-related diagnosis (possible diagnoses were identified through literature search and drug compendiums). Four cohorts were defined: (1) epilepsy only; (2) migraine only; (3) epilepsy and migraine; and (4) nonepilepsy/nonmigraine. Demographic characteristics, diagnoses, comorbidities, and daily dose of topiramate were summarized using descriptive statistics. The initial study analysis (period 1) was a 180-day window comprising the 90 days before and after the first available topiramate prescription claim was filed. A second, 360-day analysis (period 2) was completed comprising the 180 days before and after the index topiramate prescription date.

RESULTS

In the 180-day analysis, 2216 SC and 4766 TX Medicaid patients met the selection criteria. Cohort classification percentages were 32.3% and 39.6% (epilepsy only), 29.7% and 16.4% (migraine only), 10.7% and 9.2% (epilepsy and migraine), and 27.3% and 34.9% (nonepilepsy/nonmigraine) for SC and TX, respectively. Mean (SD) ages were 29.9 (15.9) (SC) and 27.1 (16.1) (TX) years. In the nonepilepsy/nonmigraine cohort, the most common diagnoses were bipolar disorder and depression. The median daily doses in the epilepsy-only cohort were 175 mg/d in the SC group and 200 mg/d in the TX group. In the migraine-only cohort, the median daily dose was 100 mg/d in SC and TX. Results for the 360-day analysis were similar.

CONCLUSIONS

In this descriptive study using data from 2 Medicaid populations, the majority of patients using topiramate had a diagnosis of epilepsy and/or migraine. Median dosages ranged from 175 to 200 mg/d in patients with epilepsy and 100 mg/d in those with migraine. Depression was a common comorbidity in the migraine cohort and the nonepilepsy/nonmigraine cohort.

Reversible tremor, myoclonus, and fasciculations associated with topiramate use for migraine

OBJECTIVE

To report a patient with tremor, multifocal myoclonus, and fasciculations, possibly induced by the antiepileptic drug topiramate.

CASE REPORT

A 46-year-old woman with frequent episodes of migraine without aura that were not controlled with other prophylactic drug, developed a reversible clinical picture of postural tremor, multifocal myoclonus, weight loss, amyotrophia, and fasciculations after exposure to topiramate. These symptoms disappeared after topiramate withdrawal.

CONCLUSIONS

Tremor, myoclonus, and fasciculations should be considered as a possible adverse effect of topiramate.

New drugs for the prevention and treatment of migraine: topiramate and BIBN 4096 BS

Migraine is one of the leading causes of disability. Topiramate has multiple mechanisms and may reduce neurotransmission through the trigeminocervical complex to prevent migraine. In clinical trials for the prevention of migraine, the mean monthly migraine frequency decreased from 5.6 to 4.5 in the placebo group and larger decreases were observed with topiramate (100 mg/day, 5.8 to 3.5; 200 mg/day, 5.1 to 3.0). However, topiramate use is associated with a high incidence of adverse events (paraesthesia, fatigue, anorexia, diarrhoea), which may limit the willingness of patients to use topiramate for the prevention of migraine. BIBN 4096 BS is a non-peptide calcitonin gene-related peptide-receptor antagonist that has recently been trialled in migraine attacks. The primary efficacy end point was the reduction of severe or moderate headache prior to treatment to mild or no headache at 2 h. This endpoint was achieved in 21 of 32 (66%) patients with BIBN 4096 BS 2.5 mg, compared to 27% of patients given placebo. Although BIBN 4096 BS is a non-peptide, it is still administered intravenously, which will probably limit its use to medical centres.