Comparative study of topiramate versus sodium valproate in the prevention of migraine headaches

Migraine prevention is a major step in control and decreasing frequency of this severe and disabling type of headache. Current study was performed to determine the comparative efficacy of topiramate and sodium valproate in the management of migraine headache. In this double-blind randomized clinical trial, among patients attending to Amir-al-momenin hospital between 2006 and 2007, 285 patients (50.1%) received sodium valproate with a dose of 200 mg/day and 284 subjects (49.9%) received topiramate with a dose of 100 mg/day for one month. 262 patients (91.9%) in sodium valproate group and 266 subjects (93.7%) in topiramate group had good response to treatment (NS). In sodium valproate group, 40 patients (14%) and in topiramate group, 41 subjects (14.4%) experienced drug adverse effects (NS). According to lack of statistically significant differences between therapeutic efficacy and adverse effects of sodium valproate and topiramate, both modalities may be indicated upon with patient's conditions and physician's opinion.