Effect of Pramipexole on Headache Relief in Patients with Concomitant Migraine and Restless Legs Syndrome; A Randomized, Controlled, Clinical Trial

Abstract

BackgroundMigraine is one of themost common hereditary disease, and considerable attention is always paid to trigger factors of migraine attacks and drugs effective in the prophylaxis of such complications. Recent studies are indicative of the high prevalence of migraine together with restless legs syndrome (RLS). Some hypotheses about a common dysfunction in dopamine synthesis in both diseases are proposed. However, no single mechanism to explain this concurrence and no effective drug for patients with these two diseases is found yet.ObjectivesThe current study aimed at investigating the effect of pramipexole, an effective agent in the relief of RLS, through a randomized, clinical trial on the frequency of migraine headache attacks during three months.MethodsIn the current study, the patients with concomitant migraine and RLS were divided into two groups. One group (case) received propranolol and pramipexole, and the other group (control) received propranolol and placebo. The two groups were questioned before and after the intervention about themigraine disability assessment score (MIDAS), frequency, and severity of migraine attacks.ResultsAccording to the results, the MIDAS scores of the case group showed a greater reduction compared to that of the control group (52.67% vs. 35.74%). Moreover, the mean frequency of migraine attacks showed a greater reduction in the case group than in the control group (62.38% vs. 39.85%).ConclusionsThe current study results showed that pramipexole can be effective in reducing the frequency of migraine attacks and improving patients’ activities of daily living.