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Table 8 Drugs for the preventive treatment of migraine with a level of recommendation III and IV

From: Italian guidelines for primary headaches: 2012 revised version

Drug

Route of administration

Daily dosage (mg)

Level of evidence

Scientific strength of evidence

Clinical effectiveness

Adverse events

Level of recommendation

SNRI and SSRI

 Fluoxetine

os

10–40

B

+

+

Frequent, not severe

III

 Venlafaxine

os

75–150

B

+

+

Occasional, not severe

III

Angiotensin inhibitors

 Lisinopril

os

5–20

B

+

+

Occasional, not severe

III

 Candesartan

 

16

B

++

+

Rare, not severe

III

Antiepileptic drugs

 Lamotrigin

os

50–200

B

++

+++ (only migraine with aura)

Occasional, not severe

III

5HT1 antagonists

 Methysergide

 

2–8

A

+++

++

Potentially severe

IIIa

Other drugs

 Ribloflavin

 

400

B

++

+

Rare, not severe

IIIb

 Magnesium

 

400–600

B

++

+

Rare, not severe

IIIb

 Petasites hybridus

 

100–150

B

++

+

Rare, not severe

IIIc

 Tanacetum parthenium

 

18.75

B

+

0/+

Rare, not severe

IIIc

 Thiotic acid

 

600

B

+

?

Rare, not severe

IIIc

  1. aNot available in Italy
  2. bNot available in Italy at the recommended dosages
  3. cAvailable in Italy as a herbal product or as an over-the-counter product