Effect of Prophylactic Medication on Associated Dizziness and Motion Sickness in Migraine.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the efficacy of prophylactic medications for migraine in reducing associated dizziness and motion sickness.

STUDY

DESIGN

Multicenter prospective observational study.

SETTING

Nationwide 9 Dizziness Clinics in South Korea.

PATIENTS: One hundred thirty-eight patients who required a preventive medication for migraine accompanied by dizziness and motion sickness.

INTERVENTION: At least one of the prophylactic medications was prescribed among the beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, tricyclic antidepressants, and antiepileptic drugs.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: For 3 months from the index visit, the patients had monthly assessments of the headache (frequency and duration), dizziness handicap inventory, University of California Los Angeles dizziness questionnaire, vertigo symptom scale, and motion sickness score.

RESULTS

The prophylactic medications significantly improved the headache profiles, all three parameters of dizziness (dizziness handicap inventory, University of California Los Angeles dizziness questionnaire, and vertigo symptom scale), and severity of motion sickness (p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The prophylactic medication for migraine also improves associated dizziness and motion sickness as well as the headaches.