The news gets worse. Of these migraine sufferers, 57 percent use only over-the-counter (OTC) medications, which is about the same percentage as 10 years ago when the first study was done.
Keep in mind that although this study was conducted for the National Headache Foundation, an extremely reputable organization, it was underwritten by Glaxo Wellcome, Inc., the makers of Imitrex.
Still, just by considering your own friends and acquaintances who have migraines, you'll recognize that these results aren't really that surprising. Perhaps some of the people who still only use OTC medications have had an experience like mine.
Many years ago, when I was first diagnosed with migraine, my doctor prescribed Cafergot for me. I didn't do well on it at all. The drug, which was intended to let me function somewhat normally and stop missing work, was apparently too strong for me. It put me to sleep almost immediately and I was unable to stay awake the rest of the day. I couldn't work and couldn't even drive myself home.
The next day I had what I thought of as a drug hangover. Finally, the third day I felt near normal although a little "washed out." In short, the Cafergot simply extended the agony one whole day for me. I threw it out. I never again tried prescription medications for migraines, and now I seem to have "aged out" of the whole miserable experience.
Since my trial of Cafergot (which, by the way, my neighbor has taken successfully for years), many new treatments have come along and if my migraines were still a problem, I would certainly discuss them with my doctor.
New figures show that there is a migraine sufferer in one out of every four U.S. households, 13 percent of the population. Also, 39 percent have such severe pain they are confined to bed for one or more days, and 24 percent have had to go to the emergency room because of a migraine.
These figures indicate that doctors ought to be more alert to clinical signs of migraine and should be getting their patients on appropriate treatment programs. There are still, unfortunately, doctors who don't pay enough attention to complaints of headache.
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