title: Hypnic headache: response to lamotrigine in two cases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hypnic headache (HH) is a rare primary headache that occurs exclusively during sleep. Drug therapy of HH is often associated with side effects. In a few cases, antiepileptic drugs have been useful in preventing HH attacks.
  
  
  METHODS
  We describe two patients, a man aged 57 and a woman aged 63, both with a history of duodenal ulcer and both suffering from several months of frequent and moderate headaches (at least 15 days/month), which occurred only at night and resisted treatment. Physical examination and imaging were unremarkable. Sleep polysomnography was normal in the man. In both patients, the diagnosis of HH was made on the basis of the International Classification of Headache Disorders, 2nd edition criteria. Given the prior history of duodenal ulcer and the unavailability of some drugs in Morocco, we opted for the administration of moderate doses of lamotrigine. The outcome was favourable at one year follow-up and beyond.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  To our knowledge, the response to lamotrigine in HH cases has never been reported. Because of its safety profile and availability, lamotrigine can be an effective alternative treatment in HH.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurophysiology, Mohammed V Military Teaching Hospital, Morocco. younes.med@hotmail.fr
authors.forename: Younes
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ouahmane
authors.forename: Jamal
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mounach
authors.forename: Amal
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Satte
authors.forename: Abderrahim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zerhouni
authors.forename: Hamid
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ouhabi
mesh_terms: D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D051270:Headache Disorders, Primary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077213:Lamotrigine; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014227:Triazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D014227:Triazines; D000077213:Lamotrigine