Acupuncture as prophylaxis for menstrual-related migraine: study protocol for a multicenter randomized controlled...

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Integrative Medicine
• Clinical Trials

Background:

• Menstrual-related migraine affects over half of female migraineurs.
• Acupuncture is a potential alternative for those unsuitable for pharmacological prophylaxis.
• The efficacy of acupuncture for menstrual migraine remains unconfirmed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture compared to naproxen for menstrual-related migraine.
• To assess acupuncture's effectiveness as a prophylactic treatment.

Main Methods:

• A multicenter, single-blind, randomized controlled trial involving 184 participants.
• Comparison of verum acupuncture plus placebo medicine versus sham acupuncture plus naproxen for 3 months.
• Primary outcomes include changes in menstrual migraine days and responder rates; secondary outcomes assess migraine outside the cycle, duration, pain (VAS), and acute medication use.

Main Results:

• Data collection at baseline, 3 months, and 4 months post-treatment.
• Analysis of primary and secondary outcome measures to determine treatment effectiveness.

Conclusions:

• The trial's findings will provide evidence on the efficacy of acupuncture for menstrual-related migraine prophylaxis.
• Results will inform clinical practice regarding non-pharmacological treatment options.