Value of Combination Therapy With Antiepileptic Drugs (AEDs) for Migraine to Prevent Ischemic Stroke in Young Women

Abstract

The aim of this study was to systematically assess the efficacy of a combination of levetiracetam and sumatriptan as a preventive treatment for migraine and stroke in young women. This was a retrospective study with 342 female patients, who experienced migraines. All patients were divided into three groups: Group A (124 patients (36.2%) with triptan (sumatriptan) monotherapy), Group B (111 patients (32.4%) with a combined triptan and antiepileptic drug (AED) therapy with levetiracetam (LEV)), and Group C (107 (31.2%) patients with placebo treatment), in a 1.4:1.1:1 ratio respectively. Significant differences were found in Group B when compared with Groups A and C with respect to the use of combination hormonal contraception, smoking, a family history of migraine, and seizures. The results of this study suggested that combination treatment with levetiracetam and sumatriptan was more effective in preventing migraines and reducing the risk of stroke in young women than sumatriptan monotherapy.