Two Rizatriptan Prescribing Portions for Treatment of Migraine

A common clinical perception exists that less effective treatment of attacks increases the burden of disease across attacks in the form of increased attack frequency, severity, duration, and/or treatability. If this perception is true, more effective treatment decreases the burden of disease across attacks. There are multiple barriers to effective treatment. The triptan class of migraine medications is frequently dispensed in the context of health benefit plan formulary limitations. Because of limited supply, medications must be used very cautiously. Patients may hoard medication in reaction to fear of running out. Overly cautious use and hoarding may lead to greater disease burden. The purpose of this study is to compare the effect of two allocations of rizatriptan - a more limited allocation ("Formulary Limit") vs. a less limited allocation ("Clinical Limit") on disease burden.