Article Publish Status: FREE
Abstract Title:

Melatonin 4 mg as prophylactic therapy for primary headaches: a pilot study.

Abstract Source:

Funct Neurol. 2016 Mar 8:1-5. Epub 2016 Mar 8. PMID: 26954506

Abstract Author(s):

Anastasia Bougea, Nikolaos Spantideas, Vasilis Lyras, Theodoros Avramidis, Thomas Thomaidis

Article Affiliation:

Anastasia Bougea

Abstract:

There is growing evidence that headaches are connected to melatonin secretion. Our aim was to assess the potential effectiveness of melatonin for primary headache prevention. Forty-nine patients (37 with migraine and 12 with chronic tension-type headache, TTH) were prescribed oral melatonin, 4 mg, 30 minutes before bedtime for six months. Forty-one (83.6%) of the 49 patients completed the study, while eight dropped out for personal reasons. A statistically significant reduction in headache frequency was found between baseline and final follow-up after six months of treatment (p=0.033 for TTH patients and p<0.001 for migraineurs). The Headache Impact Test score was significantly reduced in both groups of headache patients (p=0.002 and p<0.001, respectively). At baseline, melatonin levels, measured both during a headache attack and a pain-free period, did not differ between patients with TTH and migraineurs (p=0.539 and p=0.693, respectively), and no statistically significant differences in Hamilton Depression Rating Scale scores were found between the two groups. Melatonin 4 mg as prophylactic therapy for primary headaches: a pilot study This pilot study shows promising results, in terms of headache frequency reduction and daily quality of life improvement, in both groups.

Study Type : Human Study

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