Flunarizine in migraine attack.

The usual drugs for migraine attacks carry risks of increased frequency, resistance to other treatment, drug dependency, and abuse. Ergotamines may also be vascular risk factors. Alternative drugs without these risks would be useful. Flunarizine could be an alternative. Migraine cannot be reduced to molecular pathophysiology; it is a disorder of higher brain functions. Flunarizine exhibits the profile of a psychotropic drug that fits in with this situation. In double-blind placebo-controlled studies, it was shown that 20 mg flunarizine i.v. was superior to placebo in suppressing migraine attacks and was well tolerated. These results should be further investigated, especially concerning reduction of rebound attacks.