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Venlafaxine Extended Release (XR) for the Prophylaxis of Migraine and Tension‐type Headache: A Retrospective Study in a Clinical Setting
Author(s) -
Adelman Leon C.,
Adelman James U.,
Von Seggern Randal,
Mannix Lisa K.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
headache: the journal of head and face pain
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.14
H-Index - 119
eISSN - 1526-4610
pISSN - 0017-8748
DOI - 10.1046/j.1526-4610.2000.00089.x
Subject(s) - venlafaxine , migraine , headaches , medicine , anesthesia , placebo , antidepressant , surgery , alternative medicine , pathology , hippocampus
Objective.—To assess the efficacy of extended‐release venlafaxine in the prophylaxis of migraine and chronic tension‐type headache.Background.—Venlafaxine, a structurally novel antidepressant, is a selective serotonin‐norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor. This study is the first to test the effects of extended‐release venlafaxine on headaches.Methods.—Patients were evaluated on a retrospective basis. Fifty‐six patients with chronic tension‐type headache and 114 patients with migraine were prescribed extended‐release venlafaxine. Nearly all the study subjects had been resistant to several previous preventive medications. Patients took venlafaxine for an average of 6 months with a median dose of 150 mg (range, 37.5 to 300 mg).Results.—The mean frequency of headaches in the group with chronic tension‐type headache fell from 24.0 to 15.2 per month ( P < .0001). The group with migraine showed a reduction from 16.1 to 11.1 headaches per month ( P < .0001). The medicine was well tolerated.Conclusions.—This trial indicates that extended‐release venlafaxine has potential in headache prophylaxis based on its efficacy and safety profile. We recommend a double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study to further assess the role of extended‐release venlafaxine in headache prevention.