Venlafaxine as good as amitriptyline in reducing intensity and duration of headaches in migraine
Venlafaxine reduces migraine attacks as well as amitriptyline, according to a recent study published in Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery.
Migraine, as a primary headache, is among the leading causes of disability worldwide. The present study aimed at comparing the effects of venlafaxine (VLF) and amitriptyline (AMT) reducing the severity and the number of migraine attacks.
Patients with complaints of migraine attacks were randomly divided into two groups. The first group received amitriptyline at a dose of 25 mg every night, and the second group received venlafaxine at a dose of 37.5 mg daily. The duration of treatment was eight weeks.
Results of the study are:
Eighty patients participated in the current study, out of which 57.5% were females. The mean age of the participants was 33 years, and the mean duration of disease was eight years. Both amitriptyline and venlafaxine significantly reduced the number of attacks per month (AMT: from 10.98 to 2.98, VLF: from 9.98 to 3.18), and six-item Headache Impact Test (HIT-6) score (AMT: from 67.78 to 49.73, VLF: from 66.65 to 48.88), and no significant difference was observed between the two drugs. The results demonstrated no significant relationship between age or disease duration with the score of the HIT-6. The decrease rate in the score of the HIT-6 in males was higher than that of females which shows the modifier role of the gender. Besides, it is noteworthy to mention that the adverse effects of amitriptyline exceeded the venlafaxine among the patients.
Disclaimer: This website is primarily for healthcare professionals. The content here does not replace medical advice and should not be used as medical, diagnostic, endorsement, treatment, or prescription advice. Medical science evolves rapidly, and we strive to keep our information current. If you find any discrepancies, please contact us at corrections@medicaldialogues.in. Read our Correction Policy here. Nothing here should be used as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We do not endorse any healthcare advice that contradicts a physician's guidance. Use of this site is subject to our Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and Advertisement Policy. For more details, read our Full Disclaimer here.
NOTE: Join us in combating medical misinformation. If you encounter a questionable health, medical, or medical education claim, email us at factcheck@medicaldialogues.in for evaluation.