Migraine sufferers benefit from epilepsy drug

Main Category: Headache / Migraine
Article Date: 25 Feb 2004 - 0:00 PDT

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Topiramate, a drug used for epilepsy, can reduce the number and severity of headaches that migraine sufferers experience.

The drug is also being tested for treatment of alcoholism and weight loss.

Topiramate is produced by Johnson and Johnson (under the name Topamax).

Researchers found that the drug had two benefits for migraine sufferers. It reduced the number of attacks and also reduced the sufferers' reliance on pain killers during an attack.

The people in this study had 2.1 to 2.2 fewer migraine days per month if they took daily dosages of 100 to 200 milligrams of topiramate. The study was funded by Johnson and Johnson.

Study author Jan Lewis Brandes of the Nashville Neuroscience Group in Nashville, Tennessee said 'Topiramate showed statistically significant efficacy in migraine prevention within the first month of treatment…and continued to work through the six-month study."

Nobody is sure why migraines happen. There is no real cure for migraines either. About 11% of people in the USA suffer from migraines.

Topamax's side effects can include paresthesia (tingling of the skin), fatigue, weight loss, diarrhea, nausea and memory problems (slight).

The study leader said that Topiramate seems to be safe and has an acceptable tolerability profile.

Research is currently going on into another possible use for Topiramate. It seems that it dramatically reduces the alcoholic's craving for drink.