Taking frovatriptan can prevent menstruation associated migraine in women, according to a new study.
In the US, around nine million women suffer from migraine and around 60 per cent find that it tends to be linked with menstruation. Typically, those affected find the migraine will start between two days before and one day after their period. The headaches, which are believed to be triggered by hormonal factors, can be especially disabling and long-lasting.

Researchers at the Headache Center of Thomas Jefferson Hospital, Philadelphia, now report the first study showing that the drug frovatriptan can actually prevent menstruation associated migraine. A group of 545 women took either placebo or a once or twice daily dose of frovatriptan starting two days before and continuing four days into their period.

Fifty per cent of those on the twice daily dose found that they had no headache, as did 39 per cent on the once a day dose. In the placebo group, 26 per cent avoided headache. In another study, frovatriptan was also found useful in treating cluster headache, a condition characterized by intermittent, pulsing pain around one eye. It has proved hard to treat cluster headache, so this study is especially welcome.