Flunarizine in migraine-related headache prevention: results from 200 patients treated in the UK

For over 20 years, Flunarizine has been used for treating primary headache disorders.

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Key take away

In September 2014, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) issued supportive guidance for the use of Flunarizine in headache prevention. Despite this, there is still difficulty obtaining the drug due to a lack of license. Therefore the present study provides the supportive evidence from tertiary headache practice in the UK for the use of Flunarizine in migraine.

Background

For over 20 years, Flunarizine has been used for treating primary headache disorders. This drug is authorised in Europe but not in the UK; therefore, the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) issued supportive guidelines for Flunarizine use in migraine, based on randomised controlled evidence that it is as efficacious as Topiramate and Propranolol among the adults in September 2014.

Method

A cohort of 200 adults treated with Flunarizine was examined for collecting the patients' clinical information comprising diagnosis, efficacy, dose, treatment duration and side effects.

Result

The most frequent manifestation for Flunarizine use was chronic migraine, followed by migraine with aura, sporadic hemiplegic migraine and familial hemiplegic migraine and new daily persistent headache with migrainous characteristics. Only 24% of patients exhibited positive results of Flunarizine with no clinical effect. The most common dose of Flunarizine used was 10 mg per day. Thirty-nine per cent of people available to show the treatment duration. Out of these, 64% pursued the medication for more than one year. The dose up to 15 mg was well tolerated. 10.5% of patients terminated the treatment due to side effects. Weight gain, tiredness and mood changes were the most common side effects noticed during the analysis.

Conclusion

The data impart supportive evidence from the tertiary headache practice in the UK for Flunarizine to treat migraine. The data inspire the development of future guidance concerning Flunarizine use in headache centres in countries where its use is not regular.