Nimodipine, a new calcium antagonist, in the prophylactic treatment of migraine.

Abstract

SYNOPSISThe prophylactic effect of the calcium antagonist nimodipine was assessed in a double‐blind placebo controlled parallel design study in 60 patients. After a drug‐free interval of two weeks, placebo or nimodipine were given for 13 weeks each. The dose of nimodipine was 40 mg t.i.d. Ten patients (eight on placebo, two on nimodipine) withdrew because of therapeutic failure. In the 50 patients who completed the trial there was a significant beneficial effect in the nimodipine treated group, with regard to number of migraine attacks and duration during the last two months of treatment. Side effects were negligible.