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James R. Couch, MD, PhD; Ruth S. Hassanein, MSPH

Arch Neurol. 1979;36(11):695-699.

Abstract

• In a controlled trial of amitriptyline hydrochloride in migraine prophylaxis, 100 patients received placebo for a fourweek baseline period and then were randomized in double-blind fashion to therapy with amitriptyline (47 subjects) or placebo (53 subjects) for another four to eight weeks. Subjects received up to four 25-mg tablets of amitriptyline hydrochloride or identical placebo per day. Comparing the first and second four-week periods for each patient, the conditions of 55.3% of amitriptyline subjects as opposed to 34.0% of placebo subjects were 50% improved and the difference between amitriptyline and placebo response rates was significant (P <.05). Nondepressed subjects with severe migraine and depressed subjects with less severe migraine responded best to amitriptyline, whereas depressed subjects with severe migraine had little headache relief. Amitriptyline is an effective antimigraine agent and the antimigraine effect seems relatively independent of antidepressant activity.

Author Affiliations

Footnotes

Reprint requests to Division of Neurology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Box 3926, Springfield, IL 62704 (Dr Couch).

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