title: Long-term follow-up after flunarizine or nimodipine discontinuation in migraine patients.
abstract: Various open and controlled studies have confirmed the antimigraine action of flunarizine, while the antimigraine properties of nimodipine are still open to controversy. Moreover, only a few studies include an additional follow-up after discontinuation of migraine prophylaxis with either drug. We carried out a single blind evaluation of the efficacy and tolerance of flunarizine (25 patients) in comparison with nimodipine (25 patients) and the long-term effect after discontinuation of a 6-month treatment. Both medications significantly reduced migraine frequently and severity. Flunarizine was more efficacious than nimodipine in reducing migraine frequency (p < 0.001), pain severity (p < 0.05), migraine index (p < 0.05) and corrected migraine index (p < 0.05). The positive effect lasted 8.4 +/- 4.0 months after discontinuation of flunarizine and 4.9 +/- 3.5 months after nimodipine (p < 0.05). Our results suggest that flunarizine is more effective than nimodipine in the prophylactic treatment of migraine. The positive effect after drug discontinuation lasts longer with flunarizine, compared to nimodipine.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Neurology, University of Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nuti
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lucetti
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pavese
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dell'Agnello
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Bonuccelli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005444:Flunarizine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009553:Nimodipine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D009553:Nimodipine; D005444:Flunarizine