Comment from Rachel D

I am unfortunately one of the individuals in the "risk/benefit" trade-off who was prescribed a triptan for a "migraine" (by the individual who submitted this petition, Dr. Mauskop), and had a stroke the next morning when I took it. In fact, the migraine was a bilateral vertebral and basilar artery dissection, and the sumatriptan that morning catalyzed the cerebellar and brainstem stroke an hour later (although a clot was already forming). I survived due to my right VA supporting the blood flow, but would give anything to forget or "never have had" the stroke itself (I'm very young vs. typical stroke pt). It's shocking to me that this medication could be available OTC. The recent study on safety/efficiacy of CGRP inhibitors vs. triptans cited by Dr. Mauskop does not demonstrate causality: patients who are on CGRP inhibitors are by definition going to be more likely to have a stroke, so comparing the rates of vascular events of that group vs. the general triptan pt population in no way demonstrates the relative safety of triptans. I realize there is a very real benefit to the vast majority of patients who could benefit from being able to treat their migraines with OTC triptans. However, there will be a very real cost as well. That analysis is left up to those who are reviewing this petition, and I understand that the overall benefits may outweigh situations like mine. However, I do wish to submit my own experience. I'm lucky to be alive - despite triptans. And in this case, triptans prescribed by a migraine doctor.