Migraine treatment with nicardipine

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Migraine without aura is a common neurological disorder.
• Effective treatments for migraine without aura are continually sought.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy and safety of nicardipine as a novel calcium entry blocker for treating migraine without aura.

Main Methods:

• A double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study was conducted over four months.
• Thirty patients with migraine without aura received either 20 mg of nicardipine twice daily or a placebo.
• Migraine parameters including frequency, intensity, duration, and derived indexes were monitored.

Main Results:

• Nicardipine treatment resulted in a significant improvement in all monitored migraine parameters and calculated indexes compared to placebo and baseline.
• The therapeutic benefits of nicardipine extended beyond the treatment period.
• No significant alterations in blood or attention tests were observed, with few reported side effects.

Conclusions:

• Nicardipine is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for migraine without aura.
• The drug demonstrates a sustained therapeutic effect and a favorable safety profile.