Subcutaneous histamine versus sodium valproate in migraine prophylaxis: a randomized, controlled, double-blind study

Histamine has a selective affinity for H3‐receptors and it may specifically inhibit the neurogenic edema response involved in migraine pathophysiology. The objective of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic potential of subcutaneous administration of histamine in migraine prophylaxis, compared with oral administration of sodium valproate, in an open clinical trial. Ninety‐two patients with migraine were selected under criteria established by the International Headache Society and enrolled in a 12‐week double‐blind controlled clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of subcutaneous administration of histamine (1–10 ng twice a week; n = 46) compared with oral administration of sodium valproate (500 mg daily dose; n = 46). The variables studied were headache intensity, frequency, duration, analgesic intake and migraine disability assessment (MIDAS). Two‐tailed Student's t‐ test was used to compare means and the Mann–Whitney U and anova tests were used. The data collected during the 4th, 8th and 12th weeks of treatment revealed that histamine caused a significantly greater reduction (P