Drug may offer new hope for preventing migraines in children and teenagers

Drug may offer new hope for preventing migraines in children and teenagers

There may be a new preventive treatment for children and teenagers living with migraines, according to a preliminary study released today, February 26, 2025, which will be presented at the 77th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Neurology, April 5-9, 2025, in San Diego and online. Researchers found that the drug zonisamide, used to treat seizures, may reduce migraine days in this age group. This study does not prove that zonisamide reduces migraine days. It just shows an association.

Migraine illness is debilitating and can cause children to miss school and other activities. Currently, there is only one FDA-approved migraine preventative for this age group. Our results are encouraging and show that zonisamide may be another option for reducing migraine attacks. “

Anisa Kelley, MD, author, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago

For the study, researchers reviewed health records at one institution. They identified 256 children and teenagers who were diagnosed with migraines and prescribed preventative zonisamide. Of these participants, 28% had migraine that was treated unsuccessfully with two or more previous medications as a migraine disorder. Researchers documented the number of headache days per month for each participant both before and after starting zonisamide.

They then divided participants into three subgroups based on how long they took the medication before seeing a doctor. The first group followed in the first month, the second group within two to six months and the third group after six months.

For all participants, the average number of headache days per month reduced from 18 to six at the first visit. When comparing the groups, the subgroup that followed within two to six months had the greatest reduction, with an average reduction of six headache days per month. Kelley noted that the data indicated the drug was most effective after at least two months of use.

The data also suggests that the drug was effective for both those with difficult-to-treat migraine disease and without it.

"It is very exciting that we have an effective way to treat difficult migraine disorders in children and teenagers. However, it is important to note that our study has limitations," Kelley said. "For example, our study did not compare people who were taking the drug to people who were not taking the medication. Future studies are needed with control groups to confirm our results."

This study was funded by the Stanley Mann Children's Research Institute at the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago.

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