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Updated: Mar 28, 2026
10:39
3D-Neuronavigation In Vivo Through a Patient's Brain During a Spontaneous Migraine Headache
Published on: June 2, 2014
18.9K
[Tricyclic antidepressant therapy in headache].
Máté Magyar1, Éva Csépány, Tamás Gyüre
1Semmelweis University Szentágothai János Doctoral School of Neuroscience, Budapest, Hungary. ertsey.csaba@med.semmelweis-univ.hu.
Summary
Tricyclic antidepressants like amitriptyline are effective for preventing frequent migraine and tension-type headaches. Newer antidepressants have not yet proven effective for headache prevention.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pharmacology
Context:
- Migraine and tension-type headaches affect over 10% and 30-40% of the population, respectively.
- Both headache types significantly impact individuals and society.
- Therapeutic approaches include abortive and prophylactic treatments, with prophylaxis for frequent or severe attacks.
Purpose:
- To evaluate the efficacy of different antidepressant classes in the prophylactic treatment of primary headaches.
- To compare the effectiveness of tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) with newer agents like SSRIs and SNRIs for headache prevention.
Summary:
- Amitriptyline, a TCA, has demonstrated efficacy in prophylactic headache therapy since 1968 through multiple placebo-controlled studies.
- Despite a better side-effect profile, the prophylactic effect of newer antidepressants (SSRIs, SNRIs) for headaches remains unproven.
- This challenges the widespread medical assumption that all antidepressants are equally effective for headache prophylaxis.
Impact:
- Highlights the established role of amitriptyline in managing chronic headache disorders.
- Suggests a need for further research into the specific mechanisms and efficacy of newer antidepressants for headache prevention.
- Informs clinical practice regarding the selection of prophylactic headache treatments.
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