Efficacy of duloxetine in the treatment of chronic daily headache

An aim of the study was to assess effect of duloxetine, a selective inhibitor of serotonin and noradrenalin reuptake, on chronic daily headache (CDH) and its antinociceptive mechanisms. Duloxetine was administered in dosage 60 mg per day during 8 weeks to 40 patients. The high efficacy of the drug by different clinical indices - decrease of days of headache per month, frequency of headache attacks, reduction of analgetics used - was found, all changes being statistically significant. The therapeutic response was developed from the 2(nd) month of the treatment. The study of the nociceptive flexion reflex revealed the increase of its threshold and of subjective pain threshold as well. Intensity of comorbid disorders, depression and anxiety, was also significantly decreased. Side-effects were small and transient.