Effect of valerian capsules in patients with migraine attacks treated with sodium valproate: a randomized clinical trial

Nowadays so many preventive drugs for migraine with different effects are used all around the world. One of the plants that are used traditionally in the treatment of migraine is Valeriana officinalis. The present study was aimed to evaluate the effect of valerian capsule (350 mg, three times daily) on frequency, duration and intensity of migraine attacks. The present study is a Randomized, single-blind clinical trial that is carried out on 84 female patients suffering from migraine headaches. The patients were randomly allocated to case (n=42) and control groups (n=42) and treated during three consecutive phases of 45 days. In the first phase, both groups received sodium valproate tablet, (200 mg, twice daily) and indomethacin capsule (25 mg, in attacks). In the second phase, valerian capsule (350 mg, three times daily) was added to other drugs of case group. Control group received placebo instead of valerian. Finally, in the third phase, both groups were treated the same as the first phase. And then the data obtained from the drug influence on pain intensity were analyzed based on Mann-Whitney and K2. All 84 patients cooperated to the end of study. The results indicated that valerian capsule significantly reduced the frequency, duration and intensity of migraine attacks in a way that the mean of migraine attacks reduced from 6.2±2.3 to 2.2±1.2, the duration reduced from 17.0± 9.2 to 5.7±3.7 hours and intensity from 8.7±1.2 to 3.0±1.3. According to the remarkable effect of valerian capsule on the prevention of igraine attacks, it seems that it can be a potential alternative to common migraine medications.