Ibuprofen as effective as triptan for childhood migraine
A comparison of ibuprofen with zolmitriptan in the treatment of migraine in children has concluded that they relieve pain equally well (Neurology 2006;67: June 14th, Epub ahead of print).

In this crossover study, 32 children reporting a mean duration of migraine of 4 years and a mean of 2.6 attacks per month treated their next three attacks with single doses of placebo, ibuprofen 300 or 400 mg (depending on age) and zolmitriptan 2.5 mg. Pain relief at 2 hours was reported by 69% of children with ibuprofen and 62% with zolmitriptan compared with 28% with placebo (p<0.01 for drugs vs. placebo). Significantly more children were pain-free at 2 (ibuprofen 48%, zolmitriptan 45%) and 4 hours (79% and 66% respectively) with either drug than placebo (7% at both times).

Headache recurrence rates were not significantly different but zolmitriptan was associated with less use of rescue medication (7% vs. 28% with placebo and 17% with ibuprofen). Both ibuprofen and zolmitriptan reduced migraine-associated symptoms such as nausea and photophobia/phonophobia.

Zolmitriptan, but not ibuprofen, was associated with significantly more adverse events than placebo.

Contact us
For more information.