Levetiracetam prophylaxis in pediatric migraine--an open-label study

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Published on: September 20, 2024

Ann Pakalnis1, Donna Kring, Lisa Meier

  • 1Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA.

Headache
|March 21, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Levetiracetam shows promise for pediatric migraine relief. This study found it reduced headache frequency and disability in most young patients with minimal side effects.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Epileptology

Background:

  • Migraine is a prevalent neurological disorder in children.
  • Levetiracetam, an anti-epileptic medication, has demonstrated potential in adult headache research.
  • Pediatric migraine management requires effective and well-tolerated treatment options.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the tolerability and efficacy of levetiracetam in pediatric migraine patients.
  • To assess the impact of levetiracetam on headache frequency and disability in children.

Main Methods:

  • An open-label, prospective study was conducted.
  • Twenty pediatric patients diagnosed with migraine were enrolled.
  • Levetiracetam was administered to assess its effects.

Main Results:

  • A significant reduction in headache frequency was observed in 18 out of 20 patients.
  • Pediatric Migraine Disability Assessment Scale (PedMIDAS) scores showed a significant decrease, indicating reduced disability.
  • Reported side effects were minimal, primarily mild behavioral changes.

Conclusions:

  • Levetiracetam demonstrated notable efficacy in alleviating migraine frequency and associated disability in pediatric patients.
  • The anti-epileptic drug levetiracetam appears to be a tolerable option for managing pediatric migraines.
  • Larger, placebo-controlled studies are recommended to further validate these findings and establish definitive treatment guidelines.
Abstract

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