Successful
migraine prophylaxis with
flunarizine has been reported in adults by several authors. We used
flunarizine in a double-blind, placebo controlled, randomized trial in childhood
migraine. Twenty-four children with classical or
common migraine were followed by a 12-week
flunarizine treatment period. Each patient took 5 mg/day of the
drug before going to sleep. Twenty-four children with similar clinical characteristics were assigned to placebo treatment. Efficacy of
flunarizine versus placebo was assessed on the basis of the reduction of
headache frequency and duration. A statistical comparison was performed between values reported in the treatment period and those in the three months before. Children treated with
flunarizine experienced a statistically significant reduction in
headache (66%) and duration (51%). These results were statistically superior to those observed in the placebo group. Sixteen patients on
flunarizine therapy experienced an improvement of more than 50% of both parameters. We found
flunarizine is an effective agent in children's
migraine prophylaxis. Moreover it is suitable for the low incidence of mild side effects.