2021, Vol. 3, Issue 1, Part E

Background: Migraine is one of the oldest, debilitating ailments known to man and is characterized by recurring, frequent, unilateral headaches lasting between 4 and 72 hours, aggravated by routine physical activity. The present study compared propranolol, flunarizine and divalproex sodium in prophylaxis of migraine.

Materials & Methods: 84 patients of migraine of both genders were randomly divided into 3 groups of 28 each. In group I patients received propranolol 20 to 160mg/day, group II patients received flunarizine 5 to 10mg/day and group III patients received divalproex sodium 250 to 750mg/day, for three months.

Results: There were 18 males and 10 females in group I, 15 males and 13 females in group II and 12 males and 16 females in group III. The mean frequency/month of migraine was 5.09, 5.12 and 5.02, mean duration of migraine was 20.9, 20.3 and 18.2, MIDAS was 11.9, 11.2 and 10.4 and VAS was 7.6, 6.5 and 7.2 in group I, II and III respectively. Facial swelling was seen in 2 in group II. Dizziness in 1 in group I, hair loss in 2 in group III. Tremors in 1 in group I and II and 2 in group III, weight gain in 2 in group I, 3 in group II and 5 in group III and insomnia in 1 in group II.

Conclusion: All drugs found to be equally effective in management of cases of migraine.