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Efficacy and safety of magnesium prophylaxis in children with migraine without aura

Elif Karatoprak

Northern Clinics of Istanbul, 2025

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Migraine is one of the prevalent types of primary headache disorders in children and significantly affects their quality of life. Although pharmacological prophylaxis is often necessary, conventional treatments are frequently limited by adverse effects and modest efficacy. Magnesium, a vital intracellular cation involved in numerous neuronal and vascular functions, has been proposed as a safer alternative. However, data on its use in pediatric migraine remain limited. To investigate the effectiveness and safety profile of magnesium oxide prophylaxis in children diagnosed with migraine without aura. METHODS: This retrospective study included pediatric patients aged 7-18 years with a diagnosis of migraine without aura, treated exclusively with magnesium oxide at a dosage of 6-9 mg/kg/day or a fixed dose of 365 mg/day for four months. Headache frequency, migraine-related disability (assessed by PedMIDAS), and quality of life (measured by HIT-6) were evaluated before and after four months of prophylaxis. RESULTS: Following magnesium prophylaxis, a statistically significant reduction was observed in headache frequency, PedMIDAS scores, and HIT-6 scores (p<0.001 for all). Additionally, disability levels according to PedMIDAS grading improved significantly. No participants reported side effects during the study. CONCLUSION: Magnesium oxide appears to be a well-tolerated, safe, and potentially effective prophylactic option for children with migraine without aura. It was…

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Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 2 of 5 (High · randomized trial). Randomized trials of a reasonable size are the strongest single-study design.

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