Back to List

Title:

Author:
Date:
Source:

Petasites Hybridus Root (butterbur) is an
Effective Preventive Treatment for Migraine
Lipton RB, Gobel H, et al.
Posted: January 2006  
Neurology 2004;63:2240-2244

Objective:   To evaluate the clinical efficacy of a standardized root extract from the plant Petasites hybridus as a preventive therapy for migraine.

Methods:   This is a three-arm, parallel-group, randomized trial comparing Petasites extract 75 mg. BID, Petasites extract 50 mg. BID, or placebo BID in 245 patients with migraine. Eligible patients met International Headache Society criteria for migraine, were ages 18 to 65 years, and had at least two to six attacks per month over the preceding 3 months. The main outcome measure was the decrease in migraine attack frequency per month calculated as percentage change from baseline over a 4-month treatment period.

Conclusion:   Petasites extract 75 mg. BID is more effective than placebo and is well tolerated as a preventive therapy for migraine. Petasites 50 mg. BID was not significantly more effective than placebo on the primary study endpoints.