Prevention and treatment of migraine and other recurrent headaches using leukotriene LTD4 receptor blocker drugs

摘要

Receptor blocker (antagonist) drugs which suppress the binding of the D4 class of leukotriene molecules to leukotriene receptors can reduce the frequency and severity of recurrent primary headaches, including migraine and cluster headaches. Various LTD4 receptor blockers are commercially available, including montelukast and zafirlukast. In the past, these drugs have been used to treat asthma. During human clinical trials on asthma patients, headaches were one of the most commonly reported side effects of those two drugs; therefore, they apparently were never tested as agents which might prevent or reduce migraine or cluster headaches. However, it has been shown that in at least some patients who suffer from acute recurrent migraines, LTD4 receptor blockers can greatly reduce the frequency, duration, and/or severity of their headaches, when taken chronically on a daily basis. Tests also indicate that LTD4 receptor blockers can be combined with a triptan drug to achieve a synergistic effect against acute headaches.