Abstract

Background
Anti-hypertensive medication is commonly used for the prophylaxis of migraine headache. Calcium channel blockers, verapamil, flunarizine, nimodipine or nifedipine have been tried as anti-migraine drug. Lercanidipine is developed as anti-hypertensive drug in Korea with high lipid solubility and longer duration of action. In this study, we attempted to test the efficacy of lercanidipine for the migraine with hypertension in an open labeled prospective study. Patients and Methods: Consecutive 107 outpatients aged 20 to 70 years (mean, 61.4±9.9), were analyzed. Diagnosis of migraine was made according to the International Headache Society criteria, and the migraineurs were assigned to treatment with lercanidipine (10 mg/day) for 12 weeks. The efficacy variables included the changes in monthly headache frequency, Headache Management Self-Efficacy Scale (HMSE), and Headache Disability Inventory (HDI).
Results
Headache frequency showed 62.5% reduction for three months with responder rate of 73%. HMSE score showed an improvement whereas HDI scores remaind unchanged.
Conclusions
Lercanidipine is an effective prophylactic agent in migraine. A double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial is warranted. Korean Journal of Headache 6(2):149-153, 2005