Acetazolamide in vestibular migraine prophylaxis: a retrospective study

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Clinical Pharmacology

Background:

• Vestibular migraine (VM) treatment often follows general migraine guidelines.
• Clinical similarities exist between VM and conditions like episodic ataxia type 2, which respond to acetazolamide.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of acetazolamide for preventing vestibular migraine attacks.
• To assess acetazolamide's impact on vertigo and headache frequency and severity in VM patients.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cohort study of 39 patients diagnosed with VM and treated with acetazolamide (500 mg/day).
• Data collected included monthly attack frequency and severity (Visual Analog Scale) for vertigo and headache.
• Outcomes were compared at baseline and after 3 months of treatment.

Main Results:

• Acetazolamide significantly reduced the frequency and severity of both vertigo and headache attacks.
• The reduction in vertigo frequency and severity was more pronounced compared to headache symptoms.

Conclusions:

• Acetazolamide demonstrates efficacy as a prophylactic treatment for vestibular migraine.
• The drug offers a potential therapeutic option for managing VM, particularly for vertigo symptoms.