Acute treatment of episodic childhood tension-type headache with flupirtine and paracetamol - a double-blind crossover-study

Abstract

About 10% of all schoolchildren are suffering from migraine and 50% from tension-type headache. Headache of acute onset usually will be treated with analgesic substances like paracetamol, acetylsalicylic acid or ibuprofen, the first one being the reference drug for tension-type headache in childhood. In case of lacking improvement or side-effects there is demand for an alternative safe substance for the acute analgesic therapy. In a double-blind randomised investigation flupirtine and paracetamol were given in two consecutive attacks of episodic tension-type headache. 30 children, 6-12 years old, were included. Dosage was determined according to age and weight. The children documented the acute headache intensity and duration in a special diary. Headache intensity was reduced during 2 h after intake in 89% of the 19 children treated. The reduction was 6,5 to 3,1 for flupirtine and 6,9 to 3,3/10 for paracetamol. There was no statistically significant difference between the two substances. Relevant side-effects could not be observed. Flupirtine has shown a convincing clinical effect treating acute episodic tension-type headache for children. The substance was well tolerated by the patients. In addition, flupirtine provides a high degree of safety.