An old drug for a common disease

• Published in: Journal of neurology, neurosurgery and psychiatry Vol. 84; no. 5; pp. 473 - 474
• Main Authors: Cantisani, Teresa Anna, Celani, Maria Grazia, Hankey, Graeme J, Sandercock, Peter A G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BMJ Publishing Group Ltd 01.05.2013; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal - therapeutic use; Aspirin; Aspirin - therapeutic use; Collaboration; Headache; Headaches; Humans; Migraine; Migraine Disorders - drug therapy; Pain; Palliative care
• ISSN: 0022-3050; 1468-330X
• DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2012-304183

According to the WHO, migraine alone is 19th among all causes of years lived with disability worldwide. Aspirin, at a dose of 900 or 1000 mg, is effective in relieving or suppressing pain in a migraine attack at 2 h. From a practical, clinical point of view this means that in every five people treated, one person will have a reduction in headache pain at 2 h, in every eight people treated, one person will be pain free at 2 h, and in approximately six people treated one person will have sustained pain reduction over 24 h. To improve migraine associated symptoms (vomiting, nausea) aspirin plus metoclopramide is highly effective for short term, in fact in every two to three patients treated, improvement is seen in one patient.