For children and teens living with migraine, there may be a new preventive treatment, according to a preliminary study related today, February 26, 2025, that will be presented at the American academy of neurology’s 77th annual meeting Taking place April 5–9, 2025, in San Diego and Online. Researchers found the drug zonisamide, which has been used to treat seizures, may reduce migraine days in this age group. This study does not prove that zonisamide reduces migraine days; It only shows an association.

“Migraine disease is debilitating and can lead to kids having to miss school and other activities,” Said author anisa kelley, md, of northwestern unit of feinberg school of Medicine in Chicago. “Currently, there is only one FDA -Proved Migraine Preventive Medication for this age group. Our results are encouraging, showing zonisamide may be another option for reducing migraine atak

For the Study, Researchers reviewed Health Records at One Institution. They identified 256 children and teens who had been diagnosed with migraine and prescribed preventative zonisamide. Of these participants, 28% Had Dificult-to-Treat migraine, which was defined as having migraine disease unSUCCESSFULLY TEREATED BHOTED with TWO or more previous medications. Researchers documented the number of headache days per month for each participant bot before and after starting zonisamide.

They then Divided Participants Into Three Subgroups Based on how long they took the medicine before a follow-up visit with a physician. The first group is followed up in the first month, the second group within two to six months, and the third group after six months.

For all participants, the media number of headache days per month was reduced from 18 to six at the first follow-up visit. When Comparing Between the Groups, The Subgroup that Followed Up Within Two to Six Months Had the Larget Reduction, with a Median decision of Six Headache Days Per Month. Kelley noted that the data suggested the drug was most effective after at least two months of use.

The data also suggested that the drug was effective for bot that with different-to-treatment migraine disease and thats without.

“It’s very exciting that we may have an effective way to treat Dificult Migraine Disease in Children and Teens. “For instance, our study did not compare people taking the medicine to people who did not take the medicine.