Neurontin® (Gabapentin ) is another Epilepsy medication that is being used as an effective preventive or prophylactic Migraine regiment. As Migraine and Epilepsy are Related diseases, this is actually a sound approach. Neurontin® is an antiepileptic drug, prescribed as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of partial seizures with and without secondary generalization in patients over 12 years of age with epilepsy. Neurontin is also indicated as adjunctive therapy in the treatment of partial seizures in pediatric patients age 3-12 years.. It is typically added to the treatment regimen when other drugs fail to fully control a patient’s attacks.
Gabapentin is quite effective in the treatment of cluster and chronic daily headaches. Most people achieve the reduction of headache frequency within 1-2 weeks.
In one study, eight patients with intractable cluster headache were headache-free at a maximum of 8 days after starting gabapentin at the daily dose of 900 mg4. Patients with the episodic type remained headache-free at 3 months after discontinuation of therapy. Patients with chronic cluster were headache-free during the 4 months after initiation of treatment while taking this medication.
The longest period of being continuously headache free on gabapentin was 18 months.
Gabapentin is used for migraine prevention and treatment. It reduces the frequency of headaches, pain intensity, and the use of symptomatic medications. Gabapentin is a good preventive therapy for migraines refractory to other medications.
The double-blind study of 143 patients evaluated gabapentin for migraine prophylaxis. After 3 months the patients taking gabapentin had a reduction of the migraine frequency by 1.5 migraines per month (or by 35.7%) compared with a reduction of 0.6 migraines per month for the placebo group. Also, gabapentin reduced the headache frequency by 50% or greater in 45% patients compared with only 16% patients on placebo.
Gabapentin dosage: 1,200 mg to 2,400 mg per day divided in three doses.
Gabapentin is an effective prophylactic agent for patients with migraine. In addition, gabapentin appears generally well tolerated with mild to moderate somnolence and dizziness.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11251695