quetiapine-fumarate and Migraine-Disorders

Bipolar disorder; migraines and epilepsy are three prevalent conditions, of which little is understood about their pathophysiological processes. Co-morbidities often present between two of these conditions, but it is uncommon for all three to co-exist in a patient. Here, we present a middle-aged gentleman, seen in the outpatient department of a district general hospital in England, who suffers from severe effects of all three disorders, with no other medical history. Clinical difficulties have arisen in the diagnosis and treatment of his bipolar disorder. Management of his depressive episodes with simple selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and mood stabilisers were either ineffective, or precipitated complicating adverse effects. Persistent use of citalopram is likely to have triggered bipolar disorder, whilst quetiapine induced seizures. The clinical problems presented question the possibility that bipolar disorder; migraines and epilepsy may fall on the same spectrum of disorders. This could contribute towards the complexities in treating his conditions. Further insight into their link and interactions would facilitate diagnoses of these conditions, as well as improve treatment strategies when they are presented co-morbidly.

Topics: Adult; Affect; Anger; Anticonvulsants; Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation; Antipsychotic Agents; Bipolar Disorder; Citalopram; Comorbidity; Dibenzothiazepines; Drug Therapy, Combination; Epilepsy, Generalized; Humans; Male; Migraine Disorders; Quetiapine Fumarate; Violence

Migraine is a prevalent neurological disorder. Although prevention is the core of treatment for most, some patients are refractory to standard therapies. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to evaluate the use of Quetiapine (QTP) in the preventive treatment of refractory migraine, defined as previous unresponsiveness to the combination of atenolol, nortriptyline, and flunarizine.. Thirty-four consecutive patients (30 women and 4 men) with migraine (ICHD-II), fewer than 15 days of headache per month, and not overusing symptomatic medications were studied. All participants had failed to the combination of atenolol (60 mg/day), nortriptyline (25 mg/day), and flunarizine (3 mg/day). Failure was defined as <50% reduction in attack frequency after 10 weeks of treatment. After other medications were discontinued, QTP was initiated at a single daily dose of 25 mg, and then titrated to 75 mg. After 10 weeks, headache frequency, consumption of rescue medications, and adverse events were analyzed.. Twenty-nine patients completed the study. Three patients withdrew and two were lost to follow-up. Among those who completed, 22 (75.9%; 64.7% of the intention-to-treat population) had greater than 50% headache reduction. The mean frequency of migraine days decreased from 10.2 to 6.2 per month. Use of rescue medications decreased from 2.3 to 1.2 days/week. Adverse events were reported by nine (31%) patients.. Although limited by the open design, this study provides pilot data to support the use of QTP in the preventive treatment of refractory migraine. Controlled studies are necessary to confirm these observations.

Topics: Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; Adult; Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; Antipsychotic Agents; Atenolol; Calcium Channel Blockers; Dibenzothiazepines; Drug Resistance; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Flunarizine; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Migraine Disorders; Nortriptyline; Pilot Projects; Quetiapine Fumarate; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult

Many dopamine antagonists are proven acute migraine treatments. Genetic studies also imply that polymorphisms in dopamine genes (DRD2 receptors) in persons with migraine may create dopamine hypersensitivity. However, treatment is limited by the adverse event profiles of conventional neuroleptics including extrapyramidal symptoms, anticholinergic and antihistaminergic effects, hyperprolactinemia, and prolonged cardiac QT interval. Atypical neuroleptics cause less extrapyramial symptoms and some atypical neuroleptics, including olanzapine and quetiapine, may be beneficial as both acute and preventive migraine treatment. The combination of prochlorperazine, indomethacin, and caffeine is effective in the treatment of the acute migraine attack. The mechanism of action by which neuroleptics relieve headache is probably related to dopamine D2 receptor antagonist. Other actions via serotonin (5HT) receptor antagonists may also be important, particularly for migraine prevention. Additional studies to clarify the mechanism of action of neuroleptics in migraine could lead to new drugs and better management of migraine.

Topics: Antipsychotic Agents; Benzodiazepines; Brain; Caffeine; Dibenzothiazepines; Dopamine; Dopamine Antagonists; Dopamine D2 Receptor Antagonists; Drug Interactions; Female; Humans; Hyperprolactinemia; Indomethacin; Male; Migraine Disorders; Neural Pathways; Olanzapine; Prochlorperazine; Quetiapine Fumarate; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Serotonin 5-HT2 Receptor Antagonists; Serotonin Receptor Agonists; Treatment Outcome

Migraine is a prevalent neurological disorder. Although prevention is the mainstream treatment, some patients are refractory to standard therapies.. To evaluate the use of quetiapine (QTP) in the preventive treatment of refractory migraine, defined as previous unresponsiveness to the combination atenolol + nortriptyline + flunarizine.. Thirty-four consecutive patients (30 women and 4 men) with migraine (ICHD-II) and headache attacks on less than 15 days per month not overusing symptomatic medications were studied. The main inclusion criterion was the lack of response (<50% reduction in attack frequency) after ten weeks to the combination of atenolol (60 mg/day) + nortriptyline (25 mg/day) + flunarizine (3 mg/day). The patients started on QTP as the sole treatment in a single daily dose of 25 mg, titrated to 75 mg. After ten weeks, headache frequency, consumption of rescue medications and adverse events were analyzed.. Twenty nine patients completed the study. Among completers, 22 (75.9%; 64.7% of the intention-to-treat population) presented >50% headache reduction. The mean frequency of migraine days decreased from 10.2 to 6.2 and the average consumption of rescue medications decreased from 2.3 to 1.2 days/week. Adverse events were reported by 9 (31%) patients.. Although limited by the open design, this study provides a pilot data to support the use of quetiapine in preventive treatment of refractory migraine.

Topics: Adult; Antipsychotic Agents; Atenolol; Dibenzothiazepines; Drug Resistance; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Flunarizine; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Migraine Disorders; Nortriptyline; Pilot Projects; Prospective Studies; Quetiapine Fumarate; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult

A young woman presented with multiple central hypersensitivity disorders, including fibromyalgia, headache, pelvic pain and several smooth muscle spasm disorders, including irritable bowel syndrome, irritable bladder and Raynaud's phenomenon. She also had significant fatigue and sleep problems. Her case illustrates the importance and surprising frequency of atypical bipolar mood disorders in people with multiple central hypersensitivity pain disorders, especially with depression and anxiety resistant to antidepressant treatment. Considering neurological mechanisms common to her overlapping disorders was very helpful in guiding treatment choices. This experience illustrates the value of serotonin receptor type 2 (5HT2) inhibition with atypical neuroleptics, of neural cation channel and glutamate inhibition with anticonvulsants, and the potential usefulness of antidepressants after establishing 5HT2 control to enhance downward inhibitory tracts. Medications with combined usefulness for both bipolar mood and pain disorders were highly effective for her multiple hypersensitivity problems.

Topics: Adult; Antipsychotic Agents; Bipolar Disorder; Dibenzothiazepines; Female; Fibromyalgia; Humans; Hypersensitivity; Irritable Bowel Syndrome; Migraine Disorders; Pain; Quetiapine Fumarate; Serotonin; Treatment Outcome