MedWire News: Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and associated symptoms such as heartburn are common among migraine patients, study results show.

However, migraine patients often take painkillers called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin, which may worsen or even cause reflux symptoms, warn Dr Božena Katic, from Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, and team.

The researchers conducted an internet-based survey of 1832 patients with the headache condition.

Analysis of the patients’ responses revealed that 22% had been diagnosed with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease.

Furthermore, 12% had been diagnosed with heartburn and 16% reported suffering from heartburn and other reflux symptoms but had not been diagnosed.

The most common prescription drugs used to treat migraines were migraine-specific drugs called triptans.

However, 10% of the patients diagnosed with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and heartburn, 18% of the patients with undiagnosed reflux symptoms and 12% of those who did not report reflux symptoms were taking aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for their headaches.

“Almost half of migraineurs reported physician-diagnosed gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and heartburn or symptoms of these conditions,” Dr Katic and team summarise in the Journal of Headache and Pain.

They conclude: “The presence of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and heartburn symptoms among migraineurs, coupled with their relatively frequent use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, should encourage physicians to inquire about the use of over-the-counter analgesics [painkillers] among this population and use discretion prior to prescribing appropriate treatment.”

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