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Antidepressant drugs and migraine

Martucci N, Manna V, Agnoli A

Cephalalgia : an international journal of headache, 1985

Abstract

There is evidence that some antidepressant drugs, above all amitriptyline and mianserine, are beneficial in the prophylaxis of migraine. The mechanism of action of antidepressants in migraine is likely to be complex. Mood disturbances accompanying migraine syndromes suggest a mode of action of such a class of drugs. In the last few years some clinical studies tend to show that the antimigraine effects of these drugs seem relatively independent of the antidepressant activity.

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Evidence Hub reads this as a clinical trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 3 of 5 (Moderate · trial / cohort / secondary analysis). Trials without a large randomized design, cohorts and secondary analyses give moderate evidence.

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