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Flunarizine in Migraine: A Minireview
Author(s) -
Leone Massimo,
Grazzi Licia,
Mantia Loredana La,
Bussone Gennaro
Publication year - 1991
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 - 10.1111/j.1526-4610.1991.hed3106388.x
Subject(s) - flunarizine , migraine , medicine , neuroscience , psychology , calcium
SYNOPSIS Flunarizine is a non‐selective calcium antagonist. It distributes preferentially in the adipose tissue and passes the blood brain barrier. Numerous controlled clinical studies have established that flunarizine is efficacious in migraine prophylaxis, including double‐blind studies in which the drug was compared with placebo or other antimigraine drugs. To avoid side effects a special schedule or administration is necessary. Flunarizine has no myogenic effect on smooth muscle cells of the vessles. It is said to be the only calicum antagonist able to protect brain cells against hypoxic damage. In addition, the considerable body of information which shows flunarizine capable of directly influencing the central nervous system, suggests that the drug's anti‐migraine action may depend on its ability to influence central phenomena .