Flunarizine (10 and 20 mg) i.v. versus placebo in the treatment of acute migraine attacks: a multi-centre double-blind study

In a multi-centre, randomized double-blind study, the effect and tolerance of 10 and 20 mg flunarizine i.v. versus placebo was tested on 102 migraineurs with acute migraine attacks with and/or without aura. Thirty-seven patients received 10 mg flunarizine, 32 received 20 mg and 33 received placebo. The groups were comparable. Response to treatment was defined as pain reduction of at least 50% within 60 min on a visual analogue scale after i.v. drug administration. This effect was noted on 59.4% with 20 mg flunarizine, on 24.3% with 10 mg flunarizine and on 30.3% with placebo. The tolerance of flunarizine i.v. was similar to placebo. Blood pressure and pulse rate were not affected by flunarizine. All in all, 20 mg flunarizine i.v. appeared to be a suitable alternative for treatment of acute migraine attacks.