Up to 700 pills a month: 6 million Poles suffer from migraine

Migraine, a debilitating neurological condition, affects up to 6 million people in Poland, yet it remains significantly underestimated and undertreated. Dr. Marta Waliszewska-Prosół, a neurologist and vice-president of the Polish Headache Society, highlights that migraine is often not recognized as a neurological disease, despite its genetic basis.

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Migraine is not just a headache.

The perception of migraine solely as a headache is a major issue. Dr. Waliszewska-Prosół explains that the headache is just one symptom of an attack that can last up to 72 hours. Preceding the intense pain are prodromal symptoms, where patients feel unusually fatigued. This is followed by the main attack phase and then a postdromal phase.

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Before the headache appears, accompanied by nausea, vomiting, sensory hypersensitivity to light and sound, but also to smells or touch, prodromal symptoms often occur. The patient already feels different.

Many patients initially self-treat with over-the-counter medications. However, when these become ineffective or attacks increase in frequency, they seek specialist help. Dr. Waliszewska-Prosół notes that diagnosing migraine is typically based on patient interviews, but doctors often lack the time for thorough consultations, leaving patients without clear guidance. Furthermore, Poland has a shortage of highly specialized headache treatment centers.

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Unfortunately, a good interview requires time, and doctors often lack it. Often, an insufficient conversation leads to the patient leaving the office and still not knowing what to do with themselves.

Among the estimated 6 million sufferers, approximately 750,000 have chronic migraine, experiencing headaches on more than 15 days per month. Some patients, referred to as "30 for 30," suffer from daily headaches and resort to excessive use of painkillers, with some taking up to 600-700 pills monthly. This overuse of medication can lead to further complications.

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I often talk about these patients as '30 for 30' patients, meaning people who have a headache practically every day. These are also patients who overuse painkillers. Record holders take up to 600–700 pills a month.