Clinical neuropharmacology
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Clin Neuropharmacol · Jul 2011
Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative StudyZonisamide versus topiramate in migraine prophylaxis: a double-blind randomized clinical trial.
Topiramate is an antiepileptic drug that has been approved for migraine prophylaxis. Despite appropriate efficacy for migraine prophylaxis, some patients cannot tolerate its adverse effects. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of zonisamide, another antiepileptic drug, with topiramate in decreasing the frequency and severity of migraine attacks to determine whether it could be used as an alternative for noncompliant patients to topiramate. ⋯ Our results indicated that zonisamide is as effective as topiramate in migraine prophylaxis and can be considered as an alternative treatment when topiramate is not tolerated well.
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Clin Neuropharmacol · Jul 2011
Randomized Controlled TrialThe atorvastatin during ischemic stroke study: a pilot randomized controlled trial.
Statins have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant, and profibrinolytic properties that might play a useful role in the acute phase of ischemic stroke. This pilot study assessed the possible neuroprotective action of high-dose atorvastatin administration during the first week after an ischemic stroke, to obtain data for planning a wider multicenter study. ⋯ This pilot study was unable to show any short-term benefit of atorvastatin during the acute phase of ischemic stroke. However, it suggested a possible favorable functional effect at 3 months in the least severe strokes, which could be the primary end point for a future multicenter trial.
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Clin Neuropharmacol · Jul 2011
Clinical TrialThe dubious effect of milnacipran for the treatment of burning mouth syndrome.
Burning mouth syndrome (BMS) is a condition accompanied by oral burning symptoms, including glossal pain (glossodynia) without a detectable cause. Although BMS is a chronic-pain syndrome, only one self-controlled pilot study and some case reports have reported that milnacipran is effective for the treatment of chronic pain, including that caused by BMS. However, these papers assessed only pain, and the dosage of prescribed milnacipran varied from 30 to 150 mg/d in each patient. In this study, the dosage of prescribed milnacipran was set at 60 mg/d for 12 weeks for all patients, and depression and quality of life (QOL) were assessed in addition to pain. ⋯ A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled multi-institution trial of milnacipran will be essential to determine its effectiveness for the treatment of BMS.