GABAergic Drugs for the Treatment of Migraine

Within the last decades significant progress has been made in the understanding of the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of migraine. There is a general agreement now that migraine is not only a vascular phenomenon but also a genetically determined heterogenic ion-channelopathy resulting in cortical-spreading-depression-like events, the temporary impairment of antinociceptive structures of the brainstem and the activation of the trigeminal-vascular system. The development and use of drugs targeting ion-channels and subsequently reducing cortical excitability appears as a promising avenue for both the acute treatment of migraine and migraine prevention. This review summarizes the current knowledge and evidence for GABAergic drugs in the treatment of migraine.