A DOUBLE-BLIND TRIAL OF 5 CALCIUM CHANNEL BLOCKERS IN PROPHYLAXIS OF MIGRAINE

To observe prospective prophylactic effects on migraine of 5 calcium channel blockers: isradipine, nicardipine, nimodipine, flunarizine and cyproheptadine, the placebo-controlled and double-blind trial were used in test. Among 131 patients, 89 patients were given calcium channel blockers and 31 po placebo for 12 weeks and 11 were gone out the test after the test finished. A marked improvement was seen in all groups. Statistical analysis revealed that prophylaxis effect on migraine of nimodipine and flunarizine are better than that of placebo, nicardipine and cyproheptadine are no different from placebo in headache days (P0.05) or headache index (P0.05), and isradipine is different from placebo. Therefore most of the calcium channel blockers have no or almost no effect in the prophylaxis of migraine.