Open AccessEffectiveness of cyproheptadine in the prevention of childhood migraine
Author(s) -
Zulkarnain Zulkarnain,
Johannes H. Saing,
Yazid Dimyati,
Bistok Saing
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
paediatrica indonesiana
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2338-476X
pISSN - 0030-9311
DOI - 10.14238/pi49.5.2009.286-91
Subject(s) - cyproheptadine , medicine , migraine , placebo , pediatrics , randomized controlled trial , anesthesia , alternative medicine , receptor , pathology , serotonin
Background Migraine is one of the causes of recurrent headachein childhood. Cyproheptadine is well known as an antihistamine,but there are few studies revealing the drug's effect in pediatricmigraine.Objective To determine the effectiveness of cyproheptadine in the prophylactic treatment of childhood migraine.Methods A randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial studywas performed at Medan. One hundred children with migraineaccording to the International Headache Society criteria wereincluded in the study. Subjects were divided into two groups, andeach group was given either 4 mg cyproheptadine or placebo for 12 weeks. Headache frequency was measured in headache days per month, duration was measured in hours and functional disability was measured by Pediatric Migraine Disability Assessment (PedMID AS). The efficacy was measured before intervention; also 1, 2, and 3 months after intervention.Results A total of 100 patients, with age ranging from 11 to 18 years old (with mean, 15.5 years), were treated with cyproheptadine or placebo for headache. Compared to baseline, there was a significant difference on PedMIDAS grading of migraines in both groups (P 0.05), but there were side effects of cyproheptadine up to 73%.Conclusion Cyproheptadine appears to be effective as analternative prophylactic treatment of childhood migraine.However, pediatricians should consider the significant side effectsof this drug.