Patient preferences for migraine therapy: subcutaneous sumatriptan compared with other medications

This study was conducted to identify, from the patient's perspective, the important attributes of a migraine therapy and to assess the performance of subcutaneous sumatriptan, aspirin, acetaminophen, and patients' usual therapies with respect to these attributes.

Six hundred forty-eight patients who had received subcutaneous sumatriptan (one or two doses, 6 mg per dose, for a single migraine episode) or placebo in a clinical trial completed questionnaires.

According to patients, the four most important attributes of a migraine therapy are "how well it works," "how safe it is," "how fast it works," and "side effects." The least important attribute is "cost of drug." Subcutaneous sumatriptan received significantly more favorable scores than did aspirin, acetaminophen, or patients' usual therapies with respect to the attributes of how well it works, how fast it works, and number of doses needed to relieve pain. Subcutaneous sumatriptan was also rated more favorably than either aspirin or patients' usual therapies with respect to side effects. Acetaminophen and aspirin were rated significantly more favorably than subcutaneous sumatriptan on the attributes "easy to take" and "easy to buy." Asked which drug they would use again for migraine, more patients selected subcutaneous sumatriptan than any other single medication. More patients also ranked subcutaneous sumatriptan as the best overall performer compared with other migraine medications taken in the last 12 months.

These data indicate that according to patients' preferences, subcutaneous sumatriptan possesses many of the attributes of an ideal migraine therapy.