OBJECTIVES: To compare costs and characteristics of migraine patients receiving triptan therapy versus those not receiving triptan therapy. METHODS: All patients possessing a migraine diagnosis (ICD-9-CM=346) in the PharMetrics Integrated Outcomes Database over the age of 18 between January 1, 1997and March 31, 1998 were eligible for inclusion. Subjects were required to be in the database for at least 3 months prior to and 3 months following the index date. Any subject receiving migraine treatment prior to their first diagnosis was excluded from the study. Subjects were categorized as being in either the triptan or non-triptan treatment groups based on the presence of a triptan prescription during the 90 days following their index date. Subject demographics, comorbidities and utilization of other migraine treatments were assessed, and compared across treatment groups. Charges were captured over a 90-day period following the index date. RESULTS: A total of 8,018 patients met the inclusion criteria. Approximately 85% were female and the mean age was 41.62 (Std. Dev=12.64). Over 90% did not receive a triptan prescription within 90 days of the index date. Hypertension was less commonly observed in triptan users; all other comorbidities occurred equally in both groups. Triptan users were more likely to consume other anti-migraine drugs than non-triptan users. Costs were very similar in triptan users (mean=$1751 Std. Dev.=4142) and non-triptan users (mean=$1613 Std Dev 5193). CONCLUSIONS: Triptans did not appear to be commonly prescribed following an initial migraine diagnosis. Despite increased anti-migraine drug usage in triptan users, costs between triptan and non-triptan users were very similar.