• Filippo Brighina, Antonio Palermo, Antonina Aloisio, Margherita Francolini, Giuseppe Giglia, and Brigida Fierro.
• Neurophysiology Unit, Department of Neurology, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
• Clin Neuropharmacol. 2006 Nov 1; 29 (6): 338-42.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy of levetiracetam as prophylactic treatment for migraine with aura with high frequency of attacks.BackgroundMigraine with aura with high frequency of attacks could represent a very demanding therapeutic problem. Efficacy of the antiepileptic drug, lamotrigine, has been reported in this form of migraine. Levetiracetam is a new antiepileptic drug with an excellent tolerability profile. Mechanisms of action of this drug remain largely unknown, but recently, it has been shown to exert inhibitory effects on neuronal-type calcium channels.MethodsWe performed a small open-label trial treating 16 patients affected by migraine with aura with high frequency of attacks. After a 1-month run-in period, patients were treated with levetiracetam at a dosage of 1000 mg/d for 6 months.ResultsThe number of attacks per month was significantly reduced during the first month (compared with run-in; P < 0.001), and it was reduced further during the second (second month vs first month; P < 0.001) and the third months (third month vs second month; P < 0.001) of the treatment. This improvement persisted unchanged for the remaining 3 months of treatment. In 7 (44%) of the 16 patients, the attacks were completely abolished after 3 months of treatment. Severity of headache and duration of headache and aura were also significantly reduced at the third and sixth months of treatment (P < 0.001). Levetiracetam was well tolerated (6 patients complained of slight dizziness, nervousness, and somnolence).ConclusionsLevetiracetam seems to be a safe and effective treatment for migraine with aura. Controlled trials are needed to confirm the observed results.

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