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Weight gain with pizotifen therapy.
G L Briars1, S E Travis, B Anand
1Department of Paediatrics, West Suffolk Hospital, Hardwick Lane, Bury St Edmunds IP33 2QZ, UK. g.briars@doctors.org.uk
Archives of Disease in Childhood
|April 3, 2008
Summary
Children treated with pizotifen for migraines experienced significant weight gain, independent of dosage or treatment success. This weight gain is a key characteristic to monitor during pizotifen therapy.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Pharmacology
- Clinical Pediatrics
Background:
- Pizotifen is a medication used to treat migraine conditions in children.
- Weight gain is a known potential side effect of pizotifen treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the weight gain experienced by children undergoing pizotifen therapy for migraines.
- To identify factors influencing this weight gain.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective case note review was conducted.
- Data from 121 children (405 clinic attendances) treated between 1999 and 2003 were analyzed.
- Rates of change in weight-for-age z-scores were used to assess weight gain.
Main Results:
- Children gained weight at a mean rate of 0.79 standard deviations per year, significantly more than height (0.11 SD/year).
- Weight gain rate showed no correlation with pizotifen dosage (per kg or m²) or initial body mass index.
- Similar weight gain rates were observed in patients with both satisfactory and unsatisfactory therapeutic responses.
Conclusions:
- Excessive weight gain during pizotifen therapy in children is not predictable by drug dosage or treatment outcome.
- Clinicians should be aware of and monitor for weight gain in pediatric patients receiving pizotifen.
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