Comparison of flunarizine (Sibelium) and pizotifen (Sandomigran) in migraine treatment: a double-blind study.

In this double-blind, randomized multicenter study involving 75 patients, the calcium-entry blocker flunarizine (10 mg nocte) was compared with pizotifen (2-3 mg per day in three administrations). Duration of treatment was four months. The results suggest that, in the dosage used, flunarizine is at least as effective as pizotifen in both classical and common migraine as regards effect on attack frequency. Flunarizine might tend to more markedly suppress severity of the attack, though. The weight gain seen with both drugs might be slightly less with flunarizine. A practical advantage of flunarizine is its simple dosage schedule (one intake per day).