Can flunarizine be used routinely as the first option for childhood headache treatment?: Flunarizine and childhood headache

Abstract

The prevalence of headache in childhood increases due to environmental factors. Various risk factors in children whose playgrounds are restricted outside and therefore remain inactive. So diagnosis and treatment can be challenging. The aim of this study was to evaluate the experience of flunarizine in childhood headache with a focus on efficacy and success.

We conducted a retrospective observational study of 185 pediatric patients at the tertiary pediatric emergency and pediatric neurology unit between May 2018 and May 2020. Patients with headache for >15 days of a month for at least 3 months were included in the study, whether or not receiving treatment. Also, all patients who had an adequate follow-up period were included in the study. All patients were evaluated by history, physical–neurological examination, blood tests, blood pressure, eye examination, and cranial magnetic resonance imaging. All data were evaluated statistically.

Ninety-eight (53%) of 185 cases were female and 87 (47%) were male. Average age was 11.4 years (min–max, 4–17). There was family history in 51.3% of the cases. The most frequent applicants were in the autumn season (43%), when schools were opened. Organic causes were hypertension in 1 case, brain tumor in 1 case, and papilledema due to idiopathic intracranial hypertension in 2 cases. The other cases were asked to make a 1-month pain chart and grading according to the visual analog scale. In this process, it was stated that painkillers could be used if needed. At the end of the first month, these patients were reevaluated. Flunarizine treatment was initiated in 95 patients who had to use painkillers for >4 times and who described ≥6 pain score according to the visual analog scale. The treatment was discontinued due to sleepiness and weakness in 2 patients. At the end of the third month, a 50% reduction in headache was observed in 82 cases (86.3%).

We used flunarizine as the first choice in all patients and we achieved a high rate of treatment success. Flunarizine can be considered as an alternative option for headache management in terms of low side effects, easy accessibility, and compliance with treatment.