Medication overuse in a subgroup analysis of phase 3 placebo-controlled studies of galcanezumab in the prevention of episodic and chronic migraine

Effect of antibody switch in non-responders to a CGRP receptor antibody treatment in migraine: A multi-center retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Switching between antibody classes might be a treatment option in migraine patients who have not responded to one class of a CGRP-(receptor) monoclonal antibody (mAb), but there are no efficacy data so far. In this real-world analysis, we assessed the treatment response to a CGRP-mAb in patients that have previously failed the CGRP-receptor-mAb erenumab.

METHODS

We analyzed retrospective headache diary data of 78 patients with migraine who switched between CGRP-mAbs classes at four German headache centers either due to lack of efficacy or intolerable side effects. Among these, we identified 25 patients who did not respond to erenumab after three treatment cycles (defined as <30% reduction of monthly headache days) and had complete headache documentation at least one month before and during both treatments. We assessed the ≥30% responder rate at month three after switching from erenumab to a CGRP-mAb (galcanezumab or fremanezumab) (primary endpoint). Secondary endpoints included ≥50% responder rate, monthly headache days, and monthly days with acute medication use. In an exploratory subgroup analysis patients were stratified for daily and non-daily headache.

RESULTS

The switch from erenumab to a CGRP-mAb led to a ≥30% response in one-third (32%) of the patients after three treatment cycles. A ≥50% response was achieved in 12% of the patients. Monthly headache days were reduced in month three compared to baseline (20.8 ± 7.1 to 17.8 ± 9.1; p = 0.009). Stratified analysis revealed that no patient with daily headache (n = 9) responded to the treatment switch, while a 30% response was achieved by 50% of patients with non-daily headache (n = 16).

CONCLUSION

Our findings demonstrate that a relevant proportion of erenumab non-responders might benefit from a treatment switch to a CGRP-mAb. Switching seems to be a promising treatment option especially in migraine patients with non-daily headache.

Anti-CGRP monoclonal antibodies in chronic migraine with medication overuse: real-life effectiveness and predictors of response at 6 months

Background

In daily practice, anti-CGRP monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) may be useful in chronic migraine (CM) with medication overuse (MO), but data is limited. We evaluated their effectiveness in a real-life clinical cohort.

Methods

This is a prospective study conducted in CM patients with and without medication overuse treated with monthly MAbs during 6 months (erenumab/galcanezumab). We collected headache characteristics, including acute medication intake, through an electronic diary. We compared patients (1) with and without MO at baseline, (2) with and without ongoing MO after treatment, defining MO resolution as < 10 or 15 days/month of acute medication intake, according to analgesic type, during the 6-month treatment.

Results

Of 139 CM patients completing 6-month treatment with anti-CGRP MAbs, 71.2% (99/139) had MO at baseline. After 6 months, patients with and without MO at baseline had significant and similar proportions of ≥50% reduction in migraine days/month (MO: 63.6% vs. non-MO: 57.5%, p = 0.500). 60.6% (60/99) no longer satisfied MO definition. Reduction in headache frequency compared to baseline occurred in both MO-ongoing and MO-resolution group, although those who stopped overusing had a greater improvement (headache days/month: − 13.4 ± 7.6 vs. -7.8 ± 7.2, p < 0.0001). No differences in MO resolution were observed according to the MAbs used. Baseline lower pain severity was associated with MO resolution (OR [95%]:0.236[0.054–0.975]; p = 0.049).

Conclusions

In real-life anti-CGRP MAbs are as effective in CM patients with MO as in patients without it and facilitate MO cessation. Reduction in headache frequency and acute medication days/month occurs regardless of whether patients stop overusing or not.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s10194-021-01328-1.

The Evolution of Medication Overuse Headache: History, Pathophysiology and Clinical Update

Medication overuse headache (MOH), the development or worsening of chronic headache resulting from frequent and excessive intake of medications used for acute treatment of headache, is a common secondary headache disorder and is associated with significant personal and societal burdens. The plausible physiologic mechanism is that chronic exposure to acute care migraine treatment leads to suppression of endogenous antinociceptive systems, consequently facilitating the trigeminal nociceptive process via up-regulation of the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) system. Recognizing and preventing its development is an integral aspect of migraine management, as medication overuse is a modifiable risk factor in the progression from episodic to chronic migraine. Over the years, MOH has been difficult to treat and has generated much controversy. Ongoing debates exist over the diagnostic criteria and treatment strategies, particularly regarding the roles of formal detoxification and preventive treatment. The arrival of the anti-CGRP monoclonal antibodies has also challenged our views of MOH and its treatment. This review outlines the evolution of MOH diagnostic criteria, presents the current understanding of MOH pathogenesis and discusses the debates over its development and treatment. Data on the efficacy of anti-CGRP monoclonal antibodies in the setting of medication overuse is also presented. These results indicate that patients with medication overuse, who are treated with these new medications, may not need to be detoxified in order to treat MOH. In light of these developments, it is likely that in the future MOH will be more readily diagnosed and treatment will result in better outcomes.

Medication overuse and drug addiction: a narrative review from addiction perspective

Chronic headache is particularly prevalent in migraineurs and it can progress to a condition known as medication overuse headache (MOH). MOH is a secondary headache caused by overuse of analgesics or other medications such as triptans to abort acute migraine attacks. The worsening of headache symptoms associated with medication overuse (MO) generally ameliorates following interruption of regular medication use, although the primary headache symptoms remain unaffected. MO patients may also develop certain behaviors such as ritualized drug administration, psychological drug attachment, and withdrawal symptoms that have been suggested to correlate with drug addiction. Although several reviews have been performed on this topic, to the authors best knowledge none of them have examined this topic from the addiction point of view. Therefore, we aimed to identify features in MO and drug addiction that may correlate. We initiate the review by introducing the classes of analgesics and medications that can cause MOH and those with high risk to produce MO. We further compare differences between sensitization resulting from MO and from drug addiction, the neuronal pathways that may be involved, and the genetic susceptibility that may overlap between the two conditions. Finally, ICHD recommendations to treat MOH will be provided herein.