Upper age limit for triptans for Migraines? Less effective when older?
Full Question:
Could you tell me if there is an upper age limit to using Triptans and do they lose their ability to work the older you are? Susan.
Full Answer:
Dear Susan;
This is an excellent question. As long as the patient doesn’t have a history of stroke or heart disease or high risk factors for them, there is no upper age limit for using triptans. We do order a cardiovascular work-up for patients over the age of 50 to check for “silent” cardiovascular issues.
The effectiveness of triptans isn’t age related. They can stop working as well when patients have taken them over a long period of time. In these cases, switching to a different triptan often works out well.
Good luck,
John Claude Krusz and Teri Robert
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