Prophylactic Treatment of Pediatric Migraine: Is There Anything New in the Last Decade?

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 21, 2026

Investigating Migraine-Like Behavior Using Light Aversion in Mice
05:23

Investigating Migraine-Like Behavior Using Light Aversion in Mice

Published on: August 11, 2021

4.4K

Laura Papetti1, Fabiana Ursitti1, Romina Moavero1,2

  • 1Department of Neuroscience, Headache Center, Bambino Gesù Children Hospital, Rome, Italy.

Frontiers in Neurology
|August 6, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric migraine treatment lacks approved drugs, complicating therapy. This review examines evidence for prophylactic treatments in children and adolescents, highlighting challenges like placebo response.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Pediatrics
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Migraine is a prevalent and disabling neurological disorder in children and adolescents.
  • Limited controlled data exist for prophylactic treatment of primary headaches in pediatric populations.
  • Current calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) inhibitors are approved only for adults, leaving a gap in pediatric migraine management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review and assess the existing evidence for prophylactic therapies in pediatric migraine.
  • To identify challenges and limitations in current treatment approaches for pediatric migraine.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review of clinical studies published between 2010 and 2019.
  • Focus on prophylactic treatment of primary headaches in pediatric age groups.
  • Analysis of study data regarding efficacy and limitations.

Main Results:

  • Few controlled studies specifically address pediatric migraine prophylaxis.
  • High placebo response rates in children and adolescents complicate treatment evaluation.
  • Lack of age-exclusive medications poses adherence and effectiveness challenges.

Conclusions:

  • There is a significant need for evidence-based, approved prophylactic treatments for pediatric migraine.
  • Further research is required to overcome placebo effects and establish effective therapies for young migraineurs.
  • Development of CGRP inhibitors or other targeted treatments for pediatric use is warranted.

Keywords:
guidelinesmigrainepediatric migrainepreventiveprophylactic drugstherapytreatment

More Related Videos

3D-Neuronavigation In Vivo Through a Patient's Brain During a Spontaneous Migraine Headache10:39

3D-Neuronavigation In Vivo Through a Patient's Brain During a Spontaneous Migraine Headache

Published on: June 2, 2014

18.7K
Modeling Neural Immune Signaling of Episodic and Chronic Migraine Using Spreading Depression In Vitro16:13

Modeling Neural Immune Signaling of Episodic and Chronic Migraine Using Spreading Depression In Vitro

Published on: June 13, 2011

20.4K

Related Concept Videos

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion01:26

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion

In pediatric medicine, understanding the renal function and drug elimination nuances is crucial for administering safe and effective treatments. Newborns, in particular, display markedly slower renal functions than adults, profoundly affecting how drugs are cleared from their bodies. This slower drug clearance requires clinicians to extend the dosing intervals for many medications to prevent drug accumulation and toxicity while ensuring therapeutic efficacy.One key area where these adjustments...
214
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution01:17

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution

Drug distribution in the pediatric population exhibits unique challenges and considerations due to the physiological differences between children, particularly neonates and infants, and adults. A crucial aspect of pediatric pharmacology is understanding how these differences impact the pharmacokinetics of various drugs, necessitating age-specific dosing strategies to ensure efficacy and safety.Neonates and infants have a higher total body water content, ~75%–90% of their body weight,...
263
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism01:24

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism

In pediatric care, understanding the nuances of hepatic drug metabolism is crucial, as it significantly differs from that of adults. This divergence is primarily due to the developmental stage of drug-metabolizing enzymes, which affects how medications are processed in the body. In neonates, for instance, the activity of Phase I enzymes—critical for the initial breakdown of drugs—is markedly reduced, functioning at just 20–40% of the levels seen in adults. This reduction poses...
196
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption01:23

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption

Understanding the physiological differences in the pediatric population is crucial for effective pharmacotherapy. Neonates, infants, and children exhibit significant variations in gastric pH, gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, and biliary function. These variations profoundly affect oral drug absorption, necessitating a nuanced approach to pediatric dosing.Neonates present with a unique physiological profile, having a gastric pH greater than 4 and faster and more irregular gastric...
257
Parkinson's Disease: Treatment01:24

Parkinson's Disease: Treatment

Neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's Disease (PD), involve the gradual and irreversible destruction of neurons in particular brain areas. These disorders exhibit standard features like proteinopathies, selective vulnerability of some neurons, and an interaction of intrinsic properties, genetics, and environmental influences in neural injury.
Parkinson's Disease is primarily a result of the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. The cornerstone of...
1.0K
Alzheimer's Disease: Treatment01:22

Alzheimer's Disease: Treatment

Alzheimer's Disease (AD), a neurodegenerative disorder, is pathologically identified by amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles composed of tau protein. AD pharmacotherapy aims to manage cognitive symptoms, delay disease progression, and treat behavioral symptoms. The treatment is primarily symptomatic and palliative, with no definitive disease-modifying therapy available. Cholinesterase inhibitors, including donepezil (Aricept), rivastigmine (Exelon), and galantamine (Razadyne), are...
836