Anticonvulsant drugs for pediatric migraine prevention: an evidence-based review.
BACKGROUND
The use of anticonvulsant drugs for the prevention of migraine in children and adolescents has been supported in the past.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the available evidence for the efficacy and safety of anticonvulsants drugs in the prevention of migraine attacks in children and adolescents.


METHODS
Studies were selected through a comprehensive literature search. We included all types of study designs (controlled and uncontrolled) due to the limited evidence. Monthly migraine frequency was used as the primary outcome measure in most of the studies. Studies were classified into levels of evidence according to their design.


RESULTS
Fourteen studies were included with a total of 939 patients. Topiramate (4 randomized controlled trials [RCT], two uncontrolled trials), sodium valproate/divalproex sodium (two RCTs, one uncontrolled trial, two retrospective chart reviews) levetiracetam and zonisamide (both only uncontrolled studies) are the anticonvulsants that have been reported in the literature. The findings show that valproate is not different from placebo and topiramate may not be different but further randomized trials are needed. All drugs were well tolerated in this age group with no serious events reported.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of anticonvulsants in the prevention of migraine in children and adolescents is not adequately supported by methodologically sound RCTs. More research is needed in the future to establish the efficacy and safety of specific agents.
Bakola
Eleni
E
Postgraduate Program in the Management of Pain, University of Ioannina, School of Medicine, Ioannina, Greece.
Skapinakis
Petros
P
Tzoufi
Meropi
M
Damigos
Dimitris
D
Mavreas
Venetsanos
V
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005632:Fructose / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D006801:Humans; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control*; D056687:Off-Label Use / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000077236:Topiramate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000077236:Topiramate; D005632:Fructose; D014635:Valproic Acid