Combination of tizanidine and amitriptyline in the prophylaxis of chronic tension-type headache: evaluation of efficacy and impact on quality of life

The Journal of Headache and Pain
Diego BettucciFrancesco Monaco

Abstract

Chronic tension type headache (CTTH) has a strong impact on the Quality Of Life (QOL). We carried out an open-label randomized clinical trial on 18 patients with CTTH in order to compare two different regimens of pharmacological prophylaxis: the first provided for the use of amitriptyline 20 mg/d during 3 months, while in the second we combined amitriptyline with tizanidine (4 mg/d) in the first 3 weeks of treatment. Our hypothesis is that the combination therapy may guarantee an improvement of QOL even in the early stages of treatment. In fact, it's as well-known, there is a delay of 2-3 weeks in the prophylactic effect of amitriptyline, with a consequent persistence, in the first phases of therapy, of the headache and its negative impact. We assessed the following outcome measures: frequency, pain intensity, duration of headache and the Headache Impact Test (HIT) score, used as headache-related QOL measure. The combination therapy was effective since the first month of treatment, with a significant reduction of the headache, greater than one obtained with amitriptyline alone, in terms of frequency (-52.3% vs. -40.7%), intensity (-59.51% vs. -20.39%) and duration (-53.17% vs. -36.16%). This trend was confirmed by the HIT. Our ...Continue Reading

Citations

Jun 26, 2009·The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine : Research on Paradigm, Practice, and Policy·Ko NishimuraHiroshi Toyoma
Jan 12, 2008·BMJ : British Medical Journal·Elizabeth Loder, Paul Rizzoli
Jul 6, 2014·Bundesgesundheitsblatt, Gesundheitsforschung, Gesundheitsschutz·A Straube
Oct 16, 2014·Drugs & Aging·Stephanie Wrobel GoldbergBrian M Grosberg
Jan 5, 2008·Current Pain and Headache Reports·Marc E Lenaerts
Mar 21, 2009·Current Opinion in Neurology·César Fernández-de-las-Peñas, Jean Schoenen
May 11, 2010·Drugs & Aging·Matthew S Robbins, Richard B Lipton
May 7, 2008·Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics·José Geraldo SpecialiFabíola Dach
May 26, 2009·Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy·Marc E Lenaerts
Sep 21, 2010·The Journal of Pain : Official Journal of the American Pain Society·Jianren MaoMiroslav Misha Backonja
Dec 21, 2007·Lancet Neurology·Arnaud Fumal, Jean Schoenen
Aug 6, 2008·Medicinal Research Reviews·Maria Paola GiovannoniVittorio Dal Piaz
Nov 25, 2014·Current Pain and Headache Reports·Shengyuan Yu, Xun Han
Apr 18, 2015·Disease-a-month : DM·Irene A Semenov
Jan 31, 2015·The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine : Research on Paradigm, Practice, and Policy·Giresh KanjiRachel Page
Jul 12, 2013·Cephalalgia : an International Journal of Headache·Antonia F H SmeltJeanet W Blom
Feb 4, 2009·Cephalalgia : an International Journal of Headache·B D HeckmanM Stillman
Sep 27, 2018·Journal of the American Geriatrics Society·Thomas BerkBrinder Vij
May 19, 2021·Neurology India·Sanjeev Kumar BhoiDebashish Chowdhury

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.