Factors associated with frovatriptan response in patients with migraine: A prospective, observational study

Almost one-third of patients with migraine do not adequately respond to triptans. We examined factors contributing to frovatriptan response in patients with migraine.

We enrolled new patients with migraine who consecutively visited our headache clinic. Eligible patients were instructed to take 2.5 mg of frovatriptan as soon as possible after migraine attack. The responsiveness was determined by whether headache was relieved or absent within 4 hours after the intake of frovatriptan. We assessed frovatriptan to be efficacious when headache responded to its administration in at least one of two successive migraine attacks and inefficacious when headache was not relieved in either attack. We included demographic, clinical and psychiatric variables in the analysis of factors associated with frovatriptan response.

Of 128 eligible patients, 28 (21.9%) experienced frovatriptan inefficacy. In 24 patients with current major depressive disorder, 12 (50.0%) had frovatriptan inefficacy. Only current major depressive disorder was identified as a risk factor for inefficacy (odds ratio = 5.500, 95% confidence interval 2.103-14.382, ITALIC! p = 0.001).

Depression may be a risk factor of frovatriptan inefficacy in patients with migraine, even though half of patients with major depressive disorder respond to frovatriptan.