Management of migraine without aura in adolescents: The experience of flunarizine use in a Turkish cohort
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background and purpose – Flunarizine is a specific calcium antagonist and is frequently used in adults for the prophylactic treatment of migraine. The use of flunarizine may lead to somnolence and weight gain, depression, and rarely extrapyramidal symptoms in adults. However, studies detecting the efficacy and safety of flunarizine use in adolescents are limited. In the current study, the effectiveness of flunarizine for the management of migraine without aura in Turkish adolescents was evaluated. Methods – Forty-six patients with migraine without aura, receiving flunarizine 5mg per day were included. In this retrospective study, the medical records of the cases were examined. Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and MIDAS scores were compared to assess the efficacy of the 3 months treatment. Results – The mean age was 14.37±1.83 years. There was a significant improvement in the VAS and MIDAS scores of the patients at the end of the third month (p<0.05). Side effects were detected in 23.9% of the patients, and these symptoms were sedation in 8.7% of the patients, mood swings in 4.3%, and vomiting in 4.3% of them. None of the patients discontinued the treatment due to side effects. Conclusion – Although the advancement of migraine research and treatment is inevitable, our findings support that flunarizine should still be considered as an effective and tolerable treatment option in adolescent migraineurs.
Source: Ideggyógyászati Szemle
DOI: 10.18071/isz.77.0122
Institution: KTO Karatay University
Language: English
Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W4408920428