Topiramate for Migraine Improves Quality of Life

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The anti-epileptic drug topiramate (Topamax) improves health-related quality of life when used to prevent migraine headache, according to a new study.

Topiramate has previously been shown to be an effective and generally well-tolerated migraine preventive, lead author Dr. Merle Diamond noted in an interview with Reuters Health. However, she pointed out that the question remains as to whether it improved "a patient's ability to function at home, at work, (and) overall to accomplish what they need to."

To investigate, Diamond and colleagues assessed changes in health-related quality of life measures among patients receiving topiramate (100 milligrams daily in two divided doses) for migraine prevention in three controlled trials.

Based on a total of 372 topiramate-treated and 362 placebo-treated migraine patients, topiramate compared with placebo significantly improved all health-related quality of life measures, Diamond's group reports in the September issue of Headache.

"With topiramate," Dr. Diamond said, "the ability to complete daily activities is significantly improved and their quality of life therefore improves." Emotionally, the ability to function, she concluded, "really helps."

SOURCE: Headache, September 2005.