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Levetiracetam for prophylactic treatment of pediatric migraine: A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial

Montazerlotfelahi, H; Amanat, M; Tavasoli, AR; Agah, E; Zamani, GR; Sander, JW; Badv, RS; ... Ashrafi, MR; + view all (2019) Levetiracetam for prophylactic treatment of pediatric migraine: A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Cephalalgia 10.1177/0333102419851814. (In press). Green open access

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Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Few drugs are available for migraine prophylaxis in children. Levetiracetam is a broad-spectrum anti-seizure drug that has been suggested to be effective in reducing adult migraine episodes. We assessed the safety and efficacy of levetiracetam in the prevention of pediatric migraine. METHODS: A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial was performed. Eligible participants were aged 4-17 years old with at least four migrainous episodes monthly or had severe disabling or intolerable episodes. Primary endpoints were the mean changes in monthly frequency and intensity of headaches from the baseline phase to the last month of the double-blind phase. Safety endpoint was the adverse effects reported. RESULTS: Sixty-one participants (31 taking levetiracetam and 30 taking placebo) completed the study. All had a significant reduction in frequency and intensity of episodes that was significantly greater in the levetiracetam arm. Sixty eight percent of individuals in the treatment group reported more than 50% reduction of episodes at the end of the trial compared with 30% in the placebo group ( p-value: 0.007). Irritability, day-time sedation, and mild tic were reported. CONCLUSION: Levetiracetam may be useful in migraine prevention and may decrease migraine episodes and severity. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study is prospectively registered with Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials; IRCT.ir, number IRCT2017021632603N1.

Type: Article
Title: Levetiracetam for prophylactic treatment of pediatric migraine: A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial
Location: England
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1177/0333102419851814
Publisher version: https://doi.org/10.1177%2F0333102419851814
Language: English
Additional information: This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions.
Keywords: Anti-epileptic drug, adolescent, children, headache
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences > UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences > UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology > Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10078482
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