AAN: Prophylactic Zonisamide Effective in Pediatric Migraine
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
MONDAY, March 3, 2025 -- For pediatric patients with migraine, prophylactic zonisamide use can significantly reduce the median number of headache days per month (HDPM), according to a study scheduled for presentation at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology, to be held from April 5 to 9 in San Diego.
Isabelle Kang, from the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, and colleagues examined zonisamide prophylaxis and reduction in HDPM in pediatric patients with migraine in a retrospective cohort study conducted at a single institution. A total of 256 patients (70 percent female) were included in the study, with a median age of 15 years.
The researchers found that 28 percent of the patients had intractable migraine (had failed two or more prophylactic medications). At first follow-up after zonisamide initiation, there was a median decrease from 16 to six HDPM for the entire cohort. The group that followed up within two to six months demonstrated the largest reduction, with a median decrease of six HDPM. At first follow-up, there was a significant median decrease of six HDPM seen in both intractable and nonintractable groups.
"Migraine disease is debilitating and can lead to kids having to miss school and other activities," coauthor Anisa Kelley, M.D., also from the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, said in a statement. "Currently, there is only one FDA-approved migraine preventative medication for this age group. Our results are encouraging, showing zonisamide may be another option for reducing migraine attacks."
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted March 2025
Read this next
Dietary Patterns Influence Development of Overactive Bladder
FRIDAY, June 20, 2025 -- Dietary patterns influence the development of overactive bladder (OAB), according to a study published online May 12 in Frontiers of Nutrition. Yiming...
Mismatch Repair Germline Pathogenic Variants Could Predispose to Uveal Melanoma
FRIDAY, June 20, 2025 -- Mismatch repair (MMR) germline alterations are enriched among patients with uveal melanoma (UM), according to a study published online June 18 in JAMA...
Tinnitus Linked to Impaired Cognitive Function
FRIDAY, June 20, 2025 -- Individuals with versus those without tinnitus have significantly lower scores on cognitive function tests, according to a study published online May 29...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.