Flunarizine, the vestibular system and migraine

The vestibular function was extensively investigated in 75 patients suffering from migraine. Pathological findings were present in 62 patients (82.6%). With the exception of position nystagmus, vestibular abnormalities were not related to migraine characteristics. Fifty-six patients were treated with flunarizine 10 mg daily for three months. A favourable effect on headache was obtained in 44 patients (78.5%). Flunarizine therapy influenced significantly gaze nystagmus and position nystagmus. The latter tended to be related to anti-migraine efficacy. Other electronystagmographic parameters were not substantially influenced. The authors assume that the vestibular abnormalities in migraine are side phenomena, the clinical relevance of which, at least during the headache-free phase, is not yet well understood.