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Is there a common pharmacological link between migraine and epilepsy?
Functional Neurology
|October 1, 1986
Summary
Flunarizine shows anticonvulsant effects and alters spreading depression (SD). However, other calcium entry blockers and antimigraine drugs did not consistently link anticonvulsant actions with effects on SD or epileptic activity.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Flunarizine exhibits efficacy in both epilepsy and migraine, suggesting a common mechanism of action involving calcium channel blockade.
- Spreading depression (SD) is implicated in migraine aura, and drugs affecting it may have therapeutic potential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if the calcium entry blocking action of flunarizine underlies its anticonvulsant and antimigraine effects.
- To determine if other calcium entry blockers (CEBs) and antimigraine drugs share anticonvulsant properties and affect SD.
Main Methods:
- Experimental evaluation of flunarizine's anticonvulsant activity.
- Assessment of flunarizine's effects on spreading depression (SD) thresholds.
- Recording of spontaneous epileptic bursts from the hippocampus.
- Pharmacological analysis of other CEBs and antimigraine drugs.
Main Results:
- Flunarizine demonstrated effective anticonvulsant activity in specific experimental conditions.
- Flunarizine was observed to increase the threshold for spreading depression (SD).
- Flunarizine reduced epileptic bursts recorded from the hippocampus.
Conclusions:
- While flunarizine shows promise, the broader pharmacology of other CEBs and antimigraine drugs did not establish a clear link between anticonvulsant action, SD modulation, and hippocampal epileptic activity.