A Double-Blind, Randomized Trial of Low-Dose Topiramate Vs Propranolol in Migraine Prophylaxis Publisher Pubmed



Ashtari F^{1, 2} ; Shaygannejad V¹ ; Akbari M¹
Source: Acta Neurologica Scandinavica Published:2008

Abstract

Objective - To assess the efficacy and safety of low-dose topiramate in migraine prophylaxis vs propranolol. Patients and methods - A randomized, double-blind, clinical trial including 62 patients with frequent migraine headaches (≥ 3 attacks per month) was performed for a period of 8 weeks. The patients were randomly divided into two treatment groups - treated by topiramate 50 mg/day and propranolol 80 mg/day, respectively. The patients were assessed at 0, 4, and 8 weeks of the study. Results - The topiramate group showed a reduction in the mean (±SD) of monthly migraine frequency from 6.07 (±1.89) to 1.83 (±1.39) episodes per month, headache intensity from 7.1 (±1.45) to 3.67 (±2.1) based on the Visual Analog Scale, and headache duration from 16.37 (±7.26) to 6.23 (±5.22) hours (P < 0.001). In the patients treated with propranolol, the mean (±SD) of monthly headache frequency declined from 5.83 (±1.98) to 2.2 (±1.67) per month, headache intensity lessened from 6.43 (±1.6) to 4.13 (±1.94) and headache duration decreased from 15.10 (±6.84) to 7.27 (±6.46) h (P < 0.001). Conclusion - This study demonstrated that both low-dose topiramate and propranolol could significantly reduce migraine headache frequency, intensity, and duration. However, compared with propranolol, low-dose topiramate showed better results. Copyright © 2008 The Authors.