J Korean Child Neurol Soc.
2013 Sep;21(3):120-129.
Efficacy and Safety of Flunarizine in Treatment of Pediatric Headaches
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Chosun University, Gwangju, Korea. ryoung@chosun.ac.kr
Abstract
- PURPOSE
The aim of this study was to estimate the efficacy and safety of flunarizine in the treatment of pediatric headaches.
METHODS
We conducted a retrospective analysis of clinical records of children aged between 4 and 19 years who were treated with flunarizine for headache at the Chosun university hospital between April 2006 and December 2012. Flunarizine was initially prescribed to patients 5 mg daily and was then escalated once in 7 patients because of the unresponsiveness to the initial dose. We evaluated the frequency, duration, severity, and disability of headache before and after the treatment of flunarizine. Effective treatment was defined as a reduction in the frequency of individual attacks by at the least 50%.
RESULTS
Eighty five patients were identified, but 23 were excluded due to missing records. Sixty two children were included in the study: 18 boys and 44 girls with a mean age of 11 years. The diagnostic categories included migraine (27), tension type headache (7), others (28). The mean frequency of attack was 15.1+/-8.9 per month. Good outcome was observed 54.8% (34/62) in 1 month, 70.4% (38/54) in 3 month, and 80.8% (42/52) in 6 month. Adverse effects were seen in 15 (24.2%): worsening of headache (4), sedation (3), weight gain/increased appetite (2), dizziness (1), drowsiness (1) and others (4). Flunarizine was discontinued due to adverse effects in 6 patients, which includes worsening of headache (4), muscle ache (1), and tremor (1). In addition, it was discontinued due to lack of efficacy in seven patients.
CONCLUSION
Flunarizine appears to be effective and safe in pediatric headache in our study. However, further studies are needed.
