Treating Migraine: The Case for Aspirin

High-dose aspirin is an effective treatment for acute migraine. So why aren’t more clinicians recommending it?

Clinician Reviews. 2014 March;24(3):18-19

February 28, 2014 | Clinician Reviews

Vickie F. Ingledue, MD ; Anne Mounsey, MD

CAVEATS

Lack of comparison with other treatments

Data were insufficient to compare the efficacy of aspirin with zolmitriptan, other NSAIDs alone, or acetaminophen plus codeine. Aspirin should be used with caution in patients who have chronic renal disease and/or a history of peptic ulcer disease.

CHALLENGES TO IMPLEMENTATION

Patients want a prescription

Patients often expect a prescription when they present with complaints of migraine headache and may feel shortchanged if they’re told to take an aspirin. Providing a prescription for the antiemetic metoclopramide, as well as a brief explanation of the evidence indicating that aspirin is effective for migraine, may adequately address such expectations.

Continue reading for the references...