• J Goldstein, H D Hoffman, J J Armellino, J P Battikha, S W Hamelsky, J Couch, H Blumenthal, and R B Lipton.
• San Francisco Headache Clinic, CA, USA. SFHACLIN@aol.com
• Cephalalgia. 1999 Sep 1; 19 (7): 684-91.

ObjectiveTo examine the benefits of acetaminophen, aspirin, and caffeine (AAC) in the treatment of severe, disabling migraine attacks, in a population of migraine sufferers for whom over-the-counter (OTC) medications are appropriate.BackgroundSubjects (n = 1220) who met the International Headache Society criteria for migraine with or without aura were included in three independent clinical studies.Design/MethodsPost-hoc analysis of 172 subjects who met the criteria for severe, disabling migraine reported a history of migraine attacks characterized by at least severe pain and severe disability, and treated attacks with severe pain and at least severe disability. Subjects who usually vomited with 20% or more of their migraine attacks, and those with incapacitating disability (subjects who required bed rest for more than 50% of their attacks) were not eligible for enrollment.ResultsFrom 1 h and continuing through 6 h postdose, the proportion of responders was significantly greater (p< or =0.01) for AAC than placebo. The pain intensity difference from baseline was significantly greater (p< or =0.05) for AAC than placebo from 0.5 h through 6 h. The proportion of subjects reporting improvement in functional disability, photophobia, and phonophobia was significantly greater for AAC than placebo from 2 h through 6 h postdose.ConclusionsThe nonprescription combination of AAC was well tolerated and effective.

34 keywords...

hide…