Epilepsy Drug Doesn't Prevent Migraines

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"This is a study done by a group of experts in the field following all the usual standards of clinical research, so the findings can be accepted as valid," said Dr. Ellen Drexler, director of the Headache Center at Maimonides Medical Center in New York City. "The results are not that surprising, as drugs with related mechanisms of action such as carbamazepine or phenytoin have never been found to be efficacious for migraine prophylaxis."

The study was paid for by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp., maker of oxcarbazepine. Just last week , the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned that 11 epilepsy drugs, including oxcarbazepine, might boost the risk of suicide among users.

More information

For more information on migraines, visit the U.S. National Library of Medicine.