TO EVALUATE THE EFFICACY, SAFETY AND TOLERABILITY OF ORAL PROPRANOLOL COMPARISON WITH ORAL AMITRIPTYLINE FOR MIGRAINE PROPHYLAXIS

Abstract

Objective: Treatment of migraine is both therapeutic and prophylactic. Prophylactic therapy is used to prevent further attacks. Amitriptyline and Propranolol are the most commonly used drugs for prophylactic therapy. The main objective of the study is to compare the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of Amitriptyline and Propranolol. Methods: A Prospective, Comparative, open-label study was taken up in the department of neurology, Osmania General Hospital, Hyderabad. 80 patients were randomly allocated into two groups. GROUP A with 40 patients received Tab. Amitriptyline 10 mg once daily, GROUP B with 40 patients received Tab. Propranolol 20 mg once daily at night for a period of 3 mo. The severity of the headache was measured by a 4-point pain scale and patients self–assessment migraine diary at the end of the 4th, 8th, and 12th weeks to assess treatment efficacy. Results: The mean number of attacks in the Amitriptyline and Propranolol group decreased as the duration of treatment increased. The decrease was markedly significant in the Amitriptyline group. There was a significant reduction in the severity of attacks among the Amitriptyline group (P=<0.0000001). Conclusion: In this study, the mean number of migraine attacks in the Amitriptyline and the Propranolol group decreased as the duration of treatment increased. The decrease was markedly significant in the Amitriptyline group. Thus, Amitriptyline is more effective in decreasing Amitriptyline is more effective than Propranolol in decreasing the number, duration, and severity of attacks.