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Published on: June 13, 2011

Migraines linked to interferon-beta treatment of multiple sclerosis

Alex Khromov1, Miriam Segal, Jeffrey Nissinoff

  • 1Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Weiler Hospital, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA.

American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
|July 22, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Migraine headaches are an under-recognized side effect of interferon-beta therapy for multiple sclerosis (MS). Prophylaxis with amitriptyline significantly reduced migraines, potentially preventing MS relapses.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Neuroimmunology

Background:

  • Interferon-beta is a common treatment for relapsing multiple sclerosis (MS).
  • Migraine headaches are increasingly recognized as a potential side effect of interferon-beta therapy.

Observation:

  • A multiple sclerosis patient experienced migraine headaches coinciding with interferon-beta administration.
  • The migraines increased in frequency and severity, potentially triggering an MS exacerbation.

Findings:

  • Migraine prophylaxis with daily amitriptyline led to a significant reduction in migraine frequency and severity.
  • This suggests a link between interferon-beta, migraines, and MS exacerbations.

Implications:

  • Migraine prophylaxis may be crucial for multiple sclerosis patients on interferon-beta.
  • Effective migraine management can enhance patient function and reduce disability in MS.

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