N Alpha Methyl Histamine Versus Propranolol in Migraine Prophylaxis

Objectives: To compare the efficacy and tolerability of the subcutaneous administration of N alpha methyl histamine versus oral propranolol in the treatment of migraine prophylaxis. Background: N alpha methyl histamine has a selective affinity for H3 receptors and could constitute a new therapeutic drug in migraine prophylaxis. Methods: Sixty patients with migraine were selected and enrolled in a 12-week double-blind controlled clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of subcutaneous administration of N-alpha methyl histamine (1 to 3 ug twice a week) n=30, compared to administration of 120 mg/day of oral propranolol n=30. The variables were: headache intensity, frequency of attacks, duration of migraine attacks and analgesic intake. Results: Fifty five patients completed the study. The data collected during the 4th week of treatment revealed that N alpha methyl histamine and propranolol caused a significantly (p<0.01) greater reduction between the basal values and final values of every variable studied. Conclusions: Both N alpha methyl histamine and propranolol are similarly effective in reducing or eliminating the headache in migraine prophylaxis. Low doses of N-alpha methyl histamine injected subcutaneously may represent a novel and effective therapeutic alternative in migraine patients and may lay the clinical and pharmacological groundwork for the use of H3 receptor agonist in migraine prophylaxis.