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Epilepsy Drug Trileptal Not an Effective Migraine Preventive
By Kerrie | February 12, 2008
Anticonvulsant drug Trileptal (oxcarbazepine) is not an effective migraine preventive even though preliminary data indicated it might be. In the 15-week study, 85 patients received Trileptal and 85 received a placebo. There was no difference in the number of migraine attacks for the two groups.
Unlike other epilepsy drugs that are successful for migraine
prevention, Trileptal does not regulate a neurotransmitter involved in
the headaches.
“Since some antiepileptics are useful against migraine
headaches, it would be reasonable to assume that Trileptal would
work, too. This is an example of what is necessary to prove the
presence or absence of benefit,” Molofsky said.The three epilepsy drugs that have been shown to prevent
migraines, topiramate, divalproex and gabapentin, do so through
several mechanisms. One mechanism is the regulation of the
neurotransmitter called GABA. However, oxcarbazepine appears not to
affect GABA activity. It is possible that epilepsy drugs need to
regulate GABA to prevent migraine, Silberstein noted.
The findings were published in today’s issue of the journal Neurology. Novartis, the maker of Trileptal, funded the study.
Article abstract: Oxcarbazepine in migraine headache: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study