Positive Health Online

Abstract

ALLAIS and colleagues, Woman’s Headache Center, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Turin, Turin, Italy, conducted a trial of acupuncture in the prophylactic treatment if migraine by comparison with the drug flunarizine.

Background

In this randomized controlled trial over a period of six months, the effectiveness of acupuncture versus flunarizine was evaluated as a treatment for migraine without aura.

Methodology

: 160 women suffering from migraines were randomly assigned to receive either acupuncture or oral medicine (flunarizine). Acupuncture was carried out on 80 women in weekly sessions for the first two months and then monthly for the next four months. The same acupoints were used at each treatment. In the control group of 80 women, 10 mg of flunarizine were given daily for the first two months and then for 20 days per month for the next four months. The frequency of attacks, pain intensity during attacks, and consumption of analgesic drugs were recorded.

Results

The frequency of migraine attacks and consumption of analgesic drugs decreased in both groups during treatment. The number of attacks was significantly lower in the acupuncture group after 2 and 4 months. Analgesic consumption was significantly lower in the acupuncture group after 2 months of treatment. After 6 months, these differences had disappeared. Pain intensity was significantly lowered only by the acupuncture treatment. Side effects were significantly less frequent in the acupuncture group.

Conclusion

Acupuncture proved to be an adequate treatment for migraine prophylaxis. Compared to drug treatment, it showed greater effectiveness in the first months of treatment, and better tolerability.

References

Allais G, De Lorenzo C, Quirico PE, Airola G, Tolardo G, Mana O, Benedetto C. Acupuncture in the prophylactic treatment of migraine without aura: a comparison with flunarizine. Headache 42 (9): 855-861, Oct 2002.