The first placebo-controlled trial of a special butterbur root extract for the prevention of migraine: reanalysis of efficacy criteria.
Diener HC, Rahlfs VW, Danesch U.
Department of Neurology, University of Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, DE-45122 Essen, Germany.
In this first randomised, double-blind and placebo-controlled monocenter trial 60 migraineurs between 18 and 60 years of age were treated twice daily with placebo or 50 mg of the special butterbur extract for a total of 12 weeks. Migraine attacks could maximally be reduced by 52%. After two months 66% of all patients experienced an attack reduction of at least 50% (therapy responders). Additionally, the number of patients, requiring acute pain medication was reduced by more than half in the butterbur group.