MONDAY, April 19, 2004 (HealthDayNews) -- The epilepsy drug topiramate reduces the frequency of migraine headaches, says a study in the April issue of the Archives of Neurology.
The 26-week study at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia included 487 people, aged 12 to 65, with a history of migraines. The study volunteers received either a placebo or different doses of topiramate: 50 milligrams per day, 100 milligrams per day, or 200 milligrams per day.
Among the people taking the 200-milligram dose, the average number of migraines per month decreased from about 5.6 to 3.3. Among those taking the 100-milligram dose, the average number of migraines dropped from 5.4 to 3.3 per month.
In the placebo group, the average number of migraines per month dropped from 5.6 to 4.6.
The study found the percentage of study subjects who had at least a 50 percent reduction in migraines per month was 35.9 percent in the 50-milligram group, 54 percent in the 100-milligram group, 52.3 percent in the 200-milligram group, and 22.6 percent in the placebo group.
Fatigue, nausea, appetite loss and abnormal burning or tingling sensations were among the adverse effects noted among the people taking topiramate.
The study was funded by Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research and Development, which makes topiramate.
A study published in February in the Journal of the American Medical Association also found topiramate reduces migraine frequency. That study was also funded by the drug maker.
More information
The American Academy of Family Physicians has advice on how to cope with migraines.
