TreximetTreximet in Acute Migraine Headache: Assessing Cognitive Function

Migraine headache occurs frequently in women more than men and is associated with symptoms not only of significant pain but also of symptoms typically including of photophobia, phonophobia, nausea and vomiting. Many migraine patients report difficulty in cognition from lack of concentration, difficulty in word finding or inability to remember. Many of these cognitive symptoms seem to be independent of the pain intensity and may occur completely separately from the headache pain but can be disabling. It is likely that the frequency and importance of cognitive symptoms associated with migraine are underreported.

The Mental Efficacy Workload Test (MEWT) is a computerized battery that is designed to be an efficient and accurate measure of cognition during migraine headache. Treximet is a new migraine treatment recently FDA approved for the treatment for the relief of acute migraine that may be effective for the cognitive symptoms for migraine patients who have a history of cognitive dysfunction during a migraine headache. The primary efficacy parameter is to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment with Treximet versus placebo in patients with acute migraine headache measuring neuropsychological function using the MEWT during the migraine and comparing that score with a prior MEWT score when the patient had no migraine symptoms. A double blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study was chosen so that each patient may be her or his own control.

It is the intent of this study to determine the type and intensity of cognitive dysfunction associated with migraine headache and to what extent that Treximet may relieve the cognitive dysfunction in a safe and effective manner.