Efficacy of Pregabalin versus Cinnarizine in Preventive Treatment of Children with Migraine Headache: A Randomized Double-Blind Clinical Trial Study
Iranian Journal of Child Neurology,
Vol. 20 No. 4 (2026),
1 September 2026
,
Page e8
https://doi.org/10.22037/ijcn.v20i4.52664
Abstract
Abstract
Objectives:
Different drugs have been proposed to control migraine headaches in children, which have different effectiveness. This study aims to compare the effectiveness of Pregabalin and Cinnarizine in the preventive treatment of children with migraine headaches.
Materials & Methods:
In this randomized, double-blind clinical trial, 74 children aged 6 to 17 years with migraine headaches were included. Patients were randomly assigned to Pregabalin (n = 37) and Cinnarizine (n = 37) groups. In the Pregabalin group, one oral capsule (50 or 75 mg) was prescribed at bedtime, and in the Cinnarizine group, patients received oral tablets (25 or 50 mg) at bedtime. The frequency of migraine headaches, the severity of migraine headaches, and the severity of migraine disability were measured and recorded at the beginning of the study, 4, 8, and 12 weeks after initiation of intervention, through the patient’s notes, pain scale (VAS), and PEDMIDAS, respectively. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 25, and the significance level for all statistical tests was set at < 0.05.
Results:
Three out of 74 patients did not continue follow-up for unknown reasons, and later it was found that all three were in the pregabalin group. Of 71 subjects, 38 (53.5%) were boys: 17 (50%) in the Pregabalin group and 21 (56.8%) in the Cinnarizine group. No significant difference was observed between the two groups regarding gender (P-value = 0.0569). The mean and standard deviation of the patients’ ages were 10.24 and 2.51, respectively, and their age range was 6 to 17 years. Headache frequency decreased by 72% in the Cinnarizine group and 58% in the Pregabalin group. Headache intensity decreased by 63% and 35% in the Cinnarizine and Pregabalin groups, respectively. Furthermore, the reduction rate of disability caused by migraine attacks was 89% in the Cinnarizine group and 73% in the Pregabalin group.
Conclusion:
The findings revealed that both drugs reduced migraine headaches, but Cinnarizine was more effective than Pregabalin in controlling children’s migraine headaches, with this improvement sustained through the third month.
- Migraine, Headache, Pregabalin, Cinnarizine, Pediatrics
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References
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