TY - JOUR

T1 - Verapamil and Cluster Headache

T2 - Still a Mystery. A Narrative Review of Efficacy, Mechanisms and Perspectives

AU - Petersen, Anja S.

AU - Barloese, Mads C.J.

AU - Snoer, Agneta

AU - Soerensen, Anne Mette S.

AU - Jensen, Rigmor H.

PY - 2019

Y1 - 2019

N2 - Objective: A evaluation of the effect of verapamil and other calcium channel blockers in cluster headache (CH) treatment and an investigation of possible effect mechanisms. Background: Verapamil has been used in the prevention of CH for almost 3 decades, however, the mode of action and therapeutic target is still unknown. Methods: A Pubmed search was conducted: “Verapamil”[Mesh] and “Cluster Headache”[Mesh]. We identified 5 relevant studies for CH. Publications were included if they made a substantial contribution within 3 prespecified areas: Efficacy (randomized controlled-trials or open labels studies), safety, and mechanism of effect. Results: Clinical effect: Clinical preventive treatment of CH with verapamil is based on 2 randomized controlled studies and 3 open-label studies. In total, 183 CH patients participated. Verapamil 360 mg/day was used in both controlled studies. Half of the chronic patients experienced benefit from verapamil treatment and the attack burden of episodic patients was, on average, reduced by 1 attack/day. Open-label studies support a dose-dependent level of efficacy. Mechanism of effect: Human and animal studies indicate that verapamil may exert its effect by modulating circadian rhythms, perhaps in central pacemakers, and/or by affecting release of calcitonin gene-related peptide. Conclusion: Verapamil appears to be an effective prophylactic drug in the treatment of CH and despite the scarcity of controlled trials, it is still the drug of choice. A chronotherapeutic approach might increase the effect. More basic and pharmacokinetic research is needed before the mechanism can be fully understood.

AB - Objective: A evaluation of the effect of verapamil and other calcium channel blockers in cluster headache (CH) treatment and an investigation of possible effect mechanisms. Background: Verapamil has been used in the prevention of CH for almost 3 decades, however, the mode of action and therapeutic target is still unknown. Methods: A Pubmed search was conducted: “Verapamil”[Mesh] and “Cluster Headache”[Mesh]. We identified 5 relevant studies for CH. Publications were included if they made a substantial contribution within 3 prespecified areas: Efficacy (randomized controlled-trials or open labels studies), safety, and mechanism of effect. Results: Clinical effect: Clinical preventive treatment of CH with verapamil is based on 2 randomized controlled studies and 3 open-label studies. In total, 183 CH patients participated. Verapamil 360 mg/day was used in both controlled studies. Half of the chronic patients experienced benefit from verapamil treatment and the attack burden of episodic patients was, on average, reduced by 1 attack/day. Open-label studies support a dose-dependent level of efficacy. Mechanism of effect: Human and animal studies indicate that verapamil may exert its effect by modulating circadian rhythms, perhaps in central pacemakers, and/or by affecting release of calcitonin gene-related peptide. Conclusion: Verapamil appears to be an effective prophylactic drug in the treatment of CH and despite the scarcity of controlled trials, it is still the drug of choice. A chronotherapeutic approach might increase the effect. More basic and pharmacokinetic research is needed before the mechanism can be fully understood.

KW - calcitonin gene-related peptide

KW - calcium channel blockers

KW - chronobiology

KW - cluster headache

KW - preventive treatment

KW - side effects

U2 - 10.1111/head.13603

DO - 10.1111/head.13603

M3 - Review

C2 - 31339562

AN - SCOPUS:85069940222

VL - 59

SP - 1198

EP - 1211

JO - Headache

JF - Headache

SN - 0017-8748

IS - 8

ER -