Article Sidebar
Keywords:
Article Details
Submission of a manuscript to this journal is a representation that the manuscript has not been published previously and is not under consideration for publication elsewhere.
All authors named in each manuscript would be required to sign a form (to be supplied by the Editor) so that they may retain their copyright in the article but to assign to us (the Publishers) and its licensees in perpetuity, in all forms, formats and media (whether known or created in the future) to (i) publish, reproduce, distribute, display and store the contribution, (ii) translate the contribution into other languages, create adaptations, reprints, include within collections and create summaries, extracts and/or abstracts of the contribution, (iii) create any other derivative works(s) based on the contribution, (iv) to exploit all subsidiary rights in the contribution, (v) the inclusion of electronic links from the contribution to third party material where-ever it may be located, and (vi) license any thrid party to do any or all of the above.
Main Article Content
Dispensing patterns of antimigraine agents with a focus on seasonal variations in prescribing
Abstract
Purpose: To determine the dispensing patterns of antimigraine agents in a private healthcare setting, focusing on seasonal variations in prescribing.
Methods: A retrospective, cross-sectional drug utilization study was conducted using a South African medical insurance scheme administrator database for 2016. The database contained 3 567 170 records for medicines, medical devices and procedures. All products in MIMS category 1.9 (antimigraine agents) were analysed.
Results: A total of 914 antimigraine products were dispensed to 505 patients (69.70 % females) at a cost of US$10,988.63. The average age of patients was 41.57 (SD = 13.77) years. Of the eight active ingredients, clonidine was the most often dispensed (34.68 %), followed by rizatriptan (28.01 %) and ergotamine (26.04 %). Prescribing peaks were observed in February to April 2016, and again in October. These months coincide with the change in seasons to winter and to summer, respectively, in South Africa.
Conclusion: The sample size was too small to make definite conclusions, but it seems that prescribing of antimigraine agents reaches a peak during seasonal change specifically autumn and spring, confirming that weather is a possible trigger factor in migraine.
Keywords: Migraine, Antimigraine agents, Trigger factors, Environmental, Weather, Seasonal, Prescribing patterns, Rizatriptan
