Flunarizine increases PRL secretion in normal and in migraineous women

Flunarizine (FLU) treatment has proved effective for migraine but there have been reports--though controversial--of depression and/or extrapyramidal signs and symptoms in cases of chronic therapy. It has been suggested that FLU may interfere with the activity of central dopaminergic systems. In this study, prolactin (PRL) secretion was chosen as a parameter for functional exploration of central dopaminergic systems in normal and migraineous women before and after FLU treatment. Five healthy women were given FLU (20 mg) and placebo per os, each for one day. A significance increase of serum PRL levels was found after FLU administration, but not after placebo. Ten women with common migraine underwent TRH stimulation test (200 micrograms i.v.) before and after a 30-day FLU therapy (10 mg per os). Basal PRL levels were not modified by the treatment, but TRH stimulated PRL values were significantly enhanced after a 30-day FLU therapy. These results seem to confirm the hypothesis that FLU interferes with central dopaminergic activity.