Response to BotulinumtoxinA in a migraine cohort with multiple comorbidities and widespread pain.

BACKGROUND: The phase III research evaluating migraine prophylaxis therapy (PREEMPT) protocol was developed in low-risk migraine patients. We studied longitudinal response to treatment in a sequential retrospective observational cohort to evaluate predictors of effectiveness in patients with multiple overlapping pain syndromes treated in a quaternary pain management clinic. METHODS: We evaluated indicators of individual response in 402 consecutive chronic migraine patients who provided demographic information and used the Collaborative Health Outcomes Information Registry. RESULTS: The patients were middle aged 47 (38-56) median (IQR) years old and 83% women. They reported multiple complex pain problems with 11 (6-18) regions represented on a pain body map. Evaluated with National Institutes of Health Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System measures, they reported higher scores for sleep impairment and disturbance, anxiety, depression, fatigue, pain behavior, pain interference and worse function and satisfaction with social roles compared with the general US population; p<0.001 for all domains. Within 120 days of treatment, 62% of patients reported reduced headache frequency. The best multivariable model developed for prediction of reduced headache frequency in response to treatment included lower treatment number, lower pain interference score, and less depression (p=0.001, 0.002, and 0.009). Depression may have been an obstacle to successful treatment; there was no association between depression score and number of treatments (p=0.54). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings point to the importance of identifying and addressing pain interference and depression early in chronic migraine management and, more broadly, highlights the importance of multidisciplinary evaluation and treatment in chronic migraine.

Impact of patient choice for different postcesarean delivery analgesic protocols on opioid consumption: a randomized prospective clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Choice of postcesarean delivery analgesic protocol may improve pain experience and reduce analgesic requirements. METHODS: Cesarean delivery patients were randomly assigned either to choose their postcesarean delivery analgesia protocol or to have no choice and receive routine care. Choices were low (50 µg intrathecal morphine), medium (identical to routine care: 150 µg intrathecal morphine), or high (300 µg intrathecal morphine with 600 mg oral gabapentin). All groups received scheduled acetaminophen and ibuprofen. The primary outcome was oxycodone requirements 0-48 hours postdelivery in those offered versus not offered a choice. RESULTS: Of 160 women enrolled, 120 were offered a choice and 40 were not offered a choice. There was no difference in oxycodone requirements or pain associated with choice, but those who had a choice expressed more satisfaction than those who did not have a choice (mean (95% CI) difference 5% (0% to 10 %), p=0.005). In the choice group, the high dose group required more oxycodone (5 (0 to 15) mg 0-24 hours after delivery and 15 (10 to 25) mg at 24-48 hours; p=0.05 and p=0.001) versus the low and medium groups. The low dose group had less pruritus (p=0.001), while the high dose group had more vomiting (p=0.01) requiring antiemetic treatment (p=0.04). CONCLUSION: Having a choice compared with no choice routine care did not reduce oxycodone requirements or pain scores. However, women have insight into their analgesic needs; women offered a choice and who chose the higher dose analgesic protocol required more oxycodone, and women who chose the lower dose protocol required less oxycodone. Despite providing additional analgesic (six times more intrathecal morphine plus gabapentin in high dose vs low dose protocols), we still did not equalize postcesarean oxycodone requirement differences between groups. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT02605187.