title: Flunarizine v. placebo in childhood migraine. A double-blind study.
abstract: Successful migraine prophylaxis with flunarizine has been reported in adults by several authors. We used flunarizine in a double-blind, placebo controlled, randomized trial in childhood migraine. Twenty-four children with classical or common migraine were followed by a 12-week flunarizine treatment period. Each patient took 5 mg/day of the drug before going to sleep. Twenty-four children with similar clinical characteristics were assigned to placebo treatment. Efficacy of flunarizine versus placebo was assessed on the basis of the reduction of headache frequency and duration. A statistical comparison was performed between values reported in the treatment period and those in the three months before. Children treated with flunarizine experienced a statistically significant reduction in headache (66%) and duration (51%). These results were statistically superior to those observed in the placebo group. Sixteen patients on flunarizine therapy experienced an improvement of more than 50% of both parameters. We found flunarizine is an effective agent in children's migraine prophylaxis. Moreover it is suitable for the low incidence of mild side effects.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sorge
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Marano
mesh_terms: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011897:Random Allocation
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists