Drug abuse in migraine patients

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Records of all patients discharged with a diagnosis of migraine from 2 Danish neurological departments were examined to determine the incidence of drug abuse. These departments had fixed uptake areas with a population of .apprx. 500,000 during the 5 yr study period (Jan. 1976 to Dec. 1980). Patients were selected for detailed analysis if they used morphinomimetic drugs once a month or more, took 7 or more tablets of weak analgesics a day or consumed > 60 mg ergotamine a month. A total of 92 patients fulfilled these criteria, 27 only because of ergotamine overuse. Injections of morphinomimetic drugs were given once a wk or more frequently to 32 patients. These patients also usually had an escalating consumption and were usually regarded as abusers by their doctors. During admission morphinomimetics were discontinued. None deteriorated, 1/3 remained unchanged whereas 2/3 improved. A total of 32 patients can be regarded as abusers of morphinomimetics which represents an annual incidence of 13 per million inhabitants. Morphinomimetics should not be used in treatment of migraine.

This publication has 6 references indexed in Scilit: