Abstract
Migraine is an enigmatic neurological condition impacting 1 billion individuals globally, including over 213 million people in India. The present study is undertaken to study the drug utilization pattern and to find the most costeffective drug in migraine management. In this study 42.1% patients were diagnosed with migraine without aura and the significant burden of migraine was on women. The mean age of the migraine patients was 36.78±10.02 (mean ±SD). Anti-epileptic drugs were used as first line drugs. The three most commonly used anti-epileptic drugs in our study were Topiramate, Gabapentin and Divalproex sodium. The cost effectiveness of these three drugs were analysed by cost effectiveness analysis and cost minimisation analysis. The most expensive drug prescribed was Gabapentin. Gabapentin has higher cost-equivalent number. Divalproex sodium is the least expensive and cost- effective drug than Topiramate and Gabapentin. The findings of this study can aid healthcare professionals in choosing the most costeffective antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) for migraine prevention in clinical practice. The insights from the costeffectiveness and cost-minimization analyses can be used to improve treatment protocols, leading to better patient outcomes while lowering healthcare expenses. Future research should focus on larger, multicentre studies with extended follow-up periods to confirm and expand upon these results.
Keywords: Antiepileptic Drugs, Cost-Effectiveness, Cost Minimization, Migraine, Pharmacoeconomics.