AAN: Prophylactic Zonisamide Effective in Pediatric Migraine

MONDAY, March 3, 2025 (HealthDay News) — For pediatric patients with migraine, prophylactic zonisamide use can significantly reduce the median number of headache days per month (HDPM), according to a study scheduled for presentation at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Neurology, to be held from April 5 to 9 in San Diego.

Isabelle Kang, from the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, and colleagues examined zonisamide prophylaxis and reduction in HDPM in pediatric patients with migraine in a retrospective cohort study conducted at a single institution. A total of 256 patients (70 percent female) were included in the study, with a median age of 15 years.

The researchers found that 28 percent of the patients had intractable migraine (had failed two or more prophylactic medications). At first follow-up after zonisamide initiation, there was a median decrease from 16 to six HDPM for the entire cohort. The group that followed up within two to six months demonstrated the largest reduction, with a median decrease of six HDPM. At first follow-up, there was a significant median decrease of six HDPM seen in both intractable and nonintractable groups.

“Migraine disease is debilitating and can lead to kids having to miss school and other activities,” coauthor Anisa Kelley, M.D., also from the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, said in a statement. “Currently, there is only one FDA-approved migraine preventative medication for this age group. Our results are encouraging, showing zonisamide may be another option for reducing migraine attacks.”

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