Use of Opioids for Migraine Treatment Is Common (but Inappropriate!)

Opioids are not indicated for treatment of migraines and should be avoided assiduously. Investigators assessed opioid use for migraine at three Connecticut emergency departments (EDs), one each in an academic medical center, an urban nonacademic hospital, and a community hospital.

Review of a medical records database identified 1222 ED visits for migraine from 2014 to early 2015. Opioids were prescribed at 36% of these visits (12% of academic medical center visits, 41% of urban nonacademic ED visits, and 69% of community ED visits). Patients who received opioids had more repeat visits and longer hospital stays and required more rescue therapy than those who did not receive opioids.