Simvastatin and vitamin D for Migraines? Why not?

Statins are primarily used for high cholesterol.

Is this another use for statins? Look at outcomes.

But patients need to know to be patient.... 29% had response after 24 weeks.

Could it help prevent com-morbid stroke? No data....

Awesome news. JR

Ann Neurol. 2015 Sep 29. doi: 10.1002/ana.24534. [Epub ahead of print]

Simvastatin and Vitamin D for Migraine Prevention: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Buettner C1, Nir RR2, Bertisch SM1, Bernstein C3, Schain A3, Mittleman MA4, Burstein R3.

Author information

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To assess efficacy and tolerability of simvastatin plus vitamin D for migraine prevention in adults with episodic migraine.

METHODS:

We performed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with a 12-week baseline period and 24-week intervention period in 57 adults with episodic migraine. Participants were randomly assigned to simvastatin 20 mg tablets twice daily plus vitamin D3 1000 international units capsules twice daily or matching placebo tablets and capsules.

RESULTS:

Compared to placebo, 

participants using simvastatin plus vitamin D3 demonstrated a greater decrease:

 in number of migraine days from the baseline period to intervention weeks 1-12: a change of -8.0 (IQR: -15.0 to -2.0) days in the active treatment group versus +1.0 (IQR: 1.0 to +6.0) days in the placebo group, P<0 .001="" and="" nbsp="" span="">

to intervention weeks 13-24: a change of -9.0 (IQR: -13 to -5) days in the active group versus +3.0 (IQR: -1.0 to +5.0) days in the placebo group, P<0 .001.="" abstracttext="" nbsp="">

In the active treatment group, 8 patients (25%) experienced 50% reduction in the number of migrainedays at 12 weeks and 9 (29%) at 24 weeks post randomization. 

In comparison, only 1 patient (3%) in the placebo group (p=0.03) experienced such reduction. Adverse events were similar in both active treatment and placebo groups.

INTERPRETATION:

The results demonstrate that simvastatin plus vitamin D is effective for prevention of headache in adults with episodic migraine. Given statins ability to repair endothelial dysfunction, this economical approach may also reduce the increased risk for vascular diseases among migraineurs. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

© 2015 American Neurological Association.

PMID:

 

26418341

 

[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]