Acupuncture outperforms migraine drug

Acupuncture has been shown to outperform the drug valproic acid in reducing the pain intensity of migraine headaches, without any of the adverse effects associated with drug therapy. A prospective, controlled study involving 100 migraine patients was carried out by Italian clinicians. Patients were randomly divided into two groups; Group A (acupuncture) received 20 acupuncture sessions, while Group V (valproate) received 600 mg/day of valproic acid, over a period of six months. Rescue analgesia (10 mg rizatriptan) was allowed as needed to treat migraine attacks. Both groups showed improvement in scores on the Migraine Disability Assessment (MIDAS) questionnaire after three and six months of treatment. Pain intensity was shown to be better in Group V at three months, but after six months of treatment, pain intensity, pain relief scores and rizatriptan intake were all significantly better in Group A. The rate of adverse events was 47.8% in Group V, compared with 0% in Group A. (Acupuncture Versus Valproic Acid In The Prophylaxis Of Migraine Without Aura: A Prospective Controlled Study. Minerva Anestesiol. 2013 Mar 19. [Epub ahead of print]).