The Association between Chronicity of Migraine and Complementary and Alternative Medication Use: The Turkish Perspective

Background and Purpose: The term of Complementary and Alternative Medication (CAM) is described by patients as all types of practices to prevent or treat illnesses, which are not currently considered as a part of conventional medicine. Although the advance in treatment for migraine, some patients prefer CAM therapies due to their concerns about conventional therapies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between CAM use and chronicity of migraine among Turkish migraineurs. Methods: Consecutive episodic and chronic migraine patients were recruited. A questionnaire of a list of CAM modalities including traditional therapies specific to Turkish culture, which was constructed by researcher through a literature review was given to all participants. Patterns of CAM treatments and patients’ reluctance to share CAM use with their doctors were evaluated. Results: Sixty-nine patients with episodic migraine and 31 with chronic migraine enrolled in the study. Thirty-six patients reported that they had tried CAM at least once within the last year. Massage, exercise, acupuncture, holistic methods, herbalism, vitamins, psychotherapy, hypnose, cupping, and neural therapy were used. Sociodemographic and clinical variables were not differed in CAM users of both groups. Eighty-one per cent of CAM users stated that they preferred not to tell their doctors about their CAM use if not asked. Conclusions: Patterns of CAM use in Turkey for migraine differ from western practices. Due to fear of disapproval, patients tend to hide CAM use from their doctors. Exploring the CAM use among migraineurs is essential to prevent potential interactions of CAM therapies with conventional treatments.