GABAergic drugs for the treatment of migraine

CNS Neurol Disord Drug Targets. 2007 Aug;6(4):247-50. doi: 10.2174/187152707781387305.

Abstract

Within the last decades significant progress has been made in the understanding of the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of migraine. There is a general agreement now that migraine is not only a vascular phenomenon but also a genetically determined heterogenic ion-channelopathy resulting in cortical-spreading-depression-like events, the temporary impairment of antinociceptive structures of the brainstem and the activation of the trigeminal-vascular system. The development and use of drugs targeting ion-channels and subsequently reducing cortical excitability appears as a promising avenue for both the acute treatment of migraine and migraine prevention. This review summarizes the current knowledge and evidence for GABAergic drugs in the treatment of migraine.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Amines / therapeutic use
  • Animals
  • Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids / therapeutic use
  • Fructose / analogs & derivatives
  • Fructose / therapeutic use
  • GABA Agents / therapeutic use*
  • GABA Antagonists / therapeutic use
  • Gabapentin
  • Humans
  • Migraine Disorders / drug therapy*
  • Migraine Disorders / prevention & control
  • Neuroprotective Agents / therapeutic use
  • Pregabalin
  • Receptors, GABA / drug effects
  • Receptors, GABA / physiology*
  • Receptors, GABA-A / drug effects
  • Receptors, GABA-A / physiology
  • Receptors, GABA-B / drug effects
  • Receptors, GABA-B / physiology
  • Topiramate
  • Valproic Acid / therapeutic use
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / analogs & derivatives
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / physiology*
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Amines
  • Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids
  • GABA Agents
  • GABA Antagonists
  • Neuroprotective Agents
  • Receptors, GABA
  • Receptors, GABA-A
  • Receptors, GABA-B
  • Topiramate
  • Fructose
  • Pregabalin
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
  • Valproic Acid
  • Gabapentin