title: Flunarizine in prevention of headache, ataxia, and memory deficits during decompression to 4559 m.
abstract: Our purpose was to study the preventive effect of the calcium channel blocker flunarizine on headache, postural ataxia, and memory deficits occurring during decompression to high altitude in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study. After 7-day pretreatment with the study drugs, 20 healthy men were investigated at 490 m and 0.5, 2, 4, and 6 h later at a simulated altitude of 4559 m. Headache severity was evaluated on a 4-point scale. Sway path and anteroposterior and lateral sway were recorded with open and closed eyes by static posturography. Short- and long-term memory was studied by testing the recall of verbal and figural material immediately and 2 h after presentation, respectively. Blood pressure (BP) and arterial oxygen saturation (Sa(O2)) were also assessed. Headache scores showed a trend to be lower in the flunarizine group that was significant after 4 and 6 h. Headache scores expressed as difference from baseline values showed a nonsignificant trend to be lower at 4 and 6 h in subjects treated with flunarizine. Postural stance, memory, BP, and Sa(O2) were similar in both treatment groups. Although the low number of investigated subjects may have prevented the detection of a significant therapeutic effect of flunarizine, the present data do not show that flunarizine is effective for prevention of headache, postural ataxia, and neurocognitive deficits occurring at simulated high altitude.
authors.affiliation: Neurovascular Division, Department of Neurology, University of Zürich, Frauenklinikstrasse 26, Zürich, Switzerland. ralf.baumgartner@nos.usz.ch
authors.forename: Ralf W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Baumgartner
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Keller
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Regard
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bärtsch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000532:Altitude Sickness / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D001259:Ataxia / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D003665:Decompression Sickness / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005444:Flunarizine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006261:Headache / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000187:drug effects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D005444:Flunarizine