Aspirin Treatment of Migraine Attacks: Clinical Observations

Abstract

A retrospective study of the efficacy of soluble aspirin in migraine has been carried out. Data were available for 61 patients. These patients differed in only relatively minor ways from the remainder of the population of migraine sufferers referred to a neurological consultative practice. Soluble aspirin usually or always relieved migraine attacks in 44% of these patients, and sometimes relieved the disorder in another 25%. Adverse effects mainly nausea and vomiting, were reported by 16% of patients only, and in some cases nausea and vomiting may have been due to migraine rather than to the drug. Response to aspirin was unrelated to factors such as the patient's age, sex and duration of migraine history, and to the severity of migraine or occurrence of nausea and vomiting during attacks. However, the presence of a migraine aura appeared to improve the chances of a response to aspirin. The aura may have permitted earlier recognition that migraine was present, and thus allowed earlier aspirin intake at a stage when it had a better chance of influencing migraine mechanisms.

Migraine Headache

“…Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs also are the first choice of treatment for patients with mild to mod-VOLUME 9, NUMBER 4, APRIL, 1997 erately severe migraine attacks (Welch, 1993) and are reported to relieve migraine pain in 44% of all patients (Ross-Lee, Eadie, & Tyrer, 1982). If the frequency of migraine headache attacks is low, other general medical measures such as nonpharmacologic interventions may provide adequate relief of symptoms (Hupp et al, 1989).…”

Diclofenac Epolamine is Effective in The Treatment of Acute Migraine Attacks. A Randomized, Crossover, Double Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Clinical Study

“…Several non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been reported to be effective in the management of acute migraine, such as aspirin (1)(2)(3)(4), paracetamol (5,6), naproxen (7)(8)(9)(10)(11)(12)(13), ibuprofen (14,15), ketoprofen (16), ketorolac (17), tolfenamic acid (18), mefenamic acid (6) and appropriate combinations of these compounds (18)(19)(20)(21)(22).…”