Related Experiment Videos
Migraine preventive medications: a reappraisal
J U Adelman1, A Brod, R L Von Seggern
1Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, USA.
Cephalalgia : an International Journal of Headache
|January 7, 1999
Summary
Newer acute migraine treatments are effective and safe, potentially reducing the need for preventive drugs. A new cost-equivalent number (CEN) formula helps determine if preventive migraine medications are cost-effective.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Health Economics
Background:
- Newer acute migraine medications offer rapid, effective relief with excellent safety profiles.
- These advanced treatments may reduce reliance on daily preventive therapies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a cost-effectiveness formula for migraine-preventive medications.
- To aid practitioners in comparing preventive vs. acute migraine treatment costs.
Main Methods:
- Introduction of the cost-equivalent number (CEN) metric.
- CEN calculation based on preventive medication cost and acute treatment savings.
Main Results:
- The CEN represents the monthly headache frequency where preventive and acute treatment costs equalize.
- A CEN below the patient's migraine frequency indicates cost-effectiveness for preventive medication.
Conclusions:
- The CEN provides an individualized approach to migraine treatment decisions.
- This metric balances preventive efficacy and cost against acute care expenses.