Epilepsy Drug Cuts Visual and Neurological Migraine Symptoms by Nearly 80%
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A Swedish study has reported promising results for a drug primarily used to treat epilepsy, after researchers found it was associated with a sharp reduction in the visual and neurological symptoms that some migraine patients experience before or during an attack. On average, the number of days affected by these symptoms fell by nearly 80%.
The study involved 81 patients who frequently or severely experienced symptoms linked to migraine, including flashing lights, zigzag patterns or blind spots in their vision, as well as numbness, changes in sensation and, in some cases, temporary difficulty speaking. Doctors collectively refer to these symptoms as migraine aura. «Lund University»
Researchers examined the effects of lamotrigine, a medication primarily used to treat epilepsy, and found that the average number of days patients experienced these symptoms dropped from 6.9 days a month before treatment to just 1.4 days afterward, a reduction of about 79.7%. «Study»
The improvement was not limited to the overall average. About 85.2% of participants experienced at least a 50% reduction in the number of days affected, prompting researchers to consider lamotrigine a treatment worth investigating further for patients whose visual or neurological symptoms are a frequent and disruptive part of their migraine attacks. «Study»
Despite the striking results, the findings do not mean that lamotrigine has been established as a treatment for migraine aura. The research was retrospective and observational, and there was no placebo control group. This means the study cannot yet prove that the medication alone was responsible for the improvement. «Lund University»
Researchers also assessed how well patients tolerated the treatment. Side effects were reported in 29 participants, including skin-related reactions, while five patients stopped taking the drug because of adverse effects. The data suggested that increasing the dose more gradually was associated with fewer side effects. «Study»
The research team is now planning a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial to determine whether lamotrigine can reliably reduce these migraine-related symptoms and to identify which patients may benefit most from the treatment. «Lund University»
Until stronger clinical evidence is available, lamotrigine should not be used for migraine without medical supervision, particularly because treatment requires gradual dose increases and careful monitoring for possible adverse reactions.
