An Update on Managing Migraine in Women

Kay kennis Nov 2012

Outline

• Topiramate in women of child bearing age

• Menstrual migraine

• Migraine and the use of combined hormonal contraceptives

• Migraine in pregnancy and lactation

• Migraine, the menopause and HRT

Topiramate in Women of Child Bearing Age

• Advice from CEU (FSRH) Jan 2012 (NICE more conservative)

• Weak enzyme inducer. If dose > 200mg / day and long term (>2 months use) then CHC and POC contra-indicated

• Ideally change to depot or coil (IUD and IUS ok)• Could use 2 COC pills (eg 20 and 30mcg) plus extended

or tricycling regimen with pill-free interval 4 days• Emergency contraception – Cu-IUD best if within 120

hours UPSI or within 5 days expected ovulation. Otherwise use 2 x 1.5mg LNG if within 120 hours (outside product license). Ella One can’t be used with enzyme-inducing drugs

Menstrual Migraine

• 20-60% of women report some association

• Menstruation is risk factor for migraine without aura (even if woman also has attacks with aura at other times)

• Oestrogen withdrawal in late luteal phase

• No extra migraines at ovulation in trials

• Attacks more severe, longer lasting and less responsive to treatment

Management

• Standard diet and lifestyle modifications and avoid triggers

• Standard acute treatment (? Mefenamic acid – supported by trials)

• Prophylaxis:Use diary to confirm diagnosis– if frequent non-menstrual attacks in addition to

menstrual migraine standard prophylactics best

– Perimenstrual prophylaxis needs regular periods and predictable migraine

Perimenstrual Prophylaxis

• None licensed as evidence limited

• Try for 3 cycles before abandoning

• 1st line (??) NSAIDs (esp if dysmenorrhoea/ menorrhagia). Remember contraindications and consider PPI cover.

• Perimenstrual triptans (most robust evidence)

• Perimenstrual oestrogen supplements

• Contraceptive strategies

NSAIDs for menstrual migraine

• Some migraine thought secondary to prostaglandins released from endometrium during menstruation

• NSAIDs are prostaglandin inhibitors

• Particularly useful if menorrhagia / dysmenorrhoea

• Evidence for naproxen 500mg od (or 550mg bd used prophylactically)

Perimenstrual Triptans

• Disadvantages– Increased cost– No trial showing better efficacy than standard regimens– Safety– Limited choice of abortive therapy for break through

• BUT did have more robust evidence• Frovatriptan (2.5mg bd) or zolmitriptan (2.5mg bd –

tds)– Take from day -2 for 6 days– May cause rebound headache

Perimenstrual Oestrogen Supplements

• Prevent oestrogen dip• Contraindicated if H/O oestrogen dependent

tumour or thromboembolism• Only useful if menstruation regular and predictable

(though could use fertility monitor to start Rx 10 days after ovulation)

• Oestradiol gel 1.5mg daily from day -2/3 for 7 days• Alternative 100mcg 7 day patch• Problem is delayed migraine after withdrawal

(could extend to day 7 and taper dose last 2/7-no trial evidence)

• RARELY used even by specialist in tertiary clinic

Contraceptive Strategies

• Useful if woman also needs contraception• Additional non-contraceptive benefits on premenstrual

syndrome, menorrhagia and dysmenorrhoea• Ok even if cycles irregular• Can’t use if aura• Options

– Tri-cycle COC (not if aura)– Extended regimens (see next slide)– ?Depot- should provide stable low levels of

oestrogens but no studies (other PO methods too low dose to suppress oestrogen fluctuations)

Extended Combined Hormonal Contraceptive Regimens

• Cochrane review found extended regimens are a reasonable approach to CHC use though still off licence

• Women can eliminate frequency of withdrawal bleed and any associated symptoms eg migraine

• Strategies include– 3 weeks CHC use with 4 day break (better than

7 day break as lower pregnancy risk)– Continuous use until break through bleed then 4

or 7 day break (4 thought safest)

Choice of Contraception in Migraine

• CHC contraindicated if aura

• Aura and CHC are independent risk factors for stroke- synergistic. Stroke risk in pt with Migraine aura increased from 4.4 to 8.5/100,000 by CHC. To 34.4 if smoker!

• If migraine without aura same cautions as rest of population

Migraine in Pregnancy

• Migraine without aura most likely to improve in pregnancy

• Management in pregnancy is essentially similar to management during non-pregnant state

• Women benefit from early advice on drugs• Try and minimise- ok to reassure meds

taken are unlikely to have caused harm, but don’t recommend unnecessarily

Medication in Pregnancy

• Acute– Paracetamol 1st choice– Aspirin and ibuprofen (up to 600mg /day) ok

to 30 weeks (AVOID aspirin in lactation)– Cyclizine and promethazine first line anti-

emetics (metoclopramide reverses gastric stasis so can have dal benefit)

– Sumatriptan indicated if above fail- data reassuring

Medication in Pregnancy Continued

• Prophylaxis– 1st line – Propranolol (lowest effective dose). Possible

increased congenital heart defects, intrauterine growth retardation, low birth wt – but may due to underlying maternal condition. Some evidence of neonatal bradycardia, hypoglycaemia, hypotension, respiratory distress. Data on stopping 24-48H before delivery conflicting.

– 2nd line – Amitriptyline (10-25mg). Aim to stop 3-4 weeks before delivery- antidepressant doses can cause tachycardia, irritability, muscle spasm and convulsion

Emergency Treatment in Pregnancy

• 2 cases of prolonged migraine aura successfully treated with IV prochlorperazine (10mg over 8 hours) plus 1mg magnesium sulfate over 15mins

• 6 day reducing course of steroids (60mg, 40mg, 20mg 2 days each) could be considered for long duration attacks, but not suitable for repeated use in pregnancy

Red Flags in Pregnancy

• Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and stroke are more likely to occur in women with migraine

• Beware of new neurological symptoms or signs, rising BP, known risk factors for pathology or new aura

• Secondary headache more common in pregnancy include eclampsia, stroke, post dural puncture, cerebral angiopathy, pituitary apoplexy and cerebral venous sinus thrombosis

If woman develops aura for first time in pregnancy consider

• Imminent eclampsia

• Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis

• Thrombocytopenia

• May be migraine but needs admission for further investigation

Management of Migraine in Lactation

• Similar precautions to pregnancy (but don’t use aspirin)

• Breast feeding generally sustains the benefit of pregnancy on migraine

• If anti-emetics required metoclopramide and domperidone increase breast milk production so could have dual benefit

• Contrary to prescribing information data support use of sumatriptan in breast feeding without disruption (if necessary)

Management of Perimenopausal Migraine

• Optimise vascular risk factors in all women with migraine. Women’s Health Study (5125 women) shows active migraine with aura is a risk factor for CVA and CVD. The risk for CVA is modified by age, with greatest risk age <50

• Maintaining a stable oestrogen environment can benefit oestrogen withdrawal migraine and is the most effective treatment for vasomotor symptoms (see next slide)

• Good prognosis after menopause for pts with perimenopausal exacerbation

Using HRT in Perimenopausal Migraine continued

• Migraine with aura is not a contraindication to HRT• If aura appears for first time after starting HRT exclude

TIA / other migraine mimic and reduce or stop oestrogen• Patches and gels better in migraine (more stable

hormone levels than tabs)• Be cautious if perimenopausal and intact uterus- but

continuous oestrogen with Mirena protection is better tolerated in migraineurs than cyclical combined Rx (also good if contraception required)

• Use lowest effective dose of oestrogen• Tibolone best if oral needed

Alternatives to HRT in Perimenopausal Migraine

• Fluoxetine and venlafaxine – may increase migraine in first few weeks

• Gabapentin

• Neither are as effective as HRT for the vasomotor symptoms but may help

References

• MacGregor Headache in Pregnancy Neurol Clin 2012.pdfMacGregor

• Perimenopausal migraine in women with vasomotor symptoms Maturitas 2012.pdf

• MacGregor Progress-in-the-Pharmacotherapy-of-Menstrual-Migraine.Clinical Medicine Insights- Therapeutics 2011.pdf

Summary

• Topiramate and contraception

• Menstrual Migraine

• Migraine and contraception

• Migraine in pregnancy and lactation

• Migraine in the perimenopause

• Any Questions?