Efficacy of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Migraine Prophylaxis in Drug Resistant Migraine

Aboelmakarem, Mohammad Abdelhady Mohammad; Abdulsalam, Mohammad Fathi; Shalaby, Mohamed Hamdy Basiony

doi:10.21608/aimj.2025.446420

Efficacy of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Migraine Prophylaxis in Drug Resistant Migraine

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt

10.21608/aimj.2025.446420

Abstract

Background: Around fourteen percent of the global population suffers from migraines, making it one of the most prevalent neurological disorders. Migraine prevention and abortive treatment options are extensive. All of these medications come with a plethora of adverse effects, and none of them work perfectly.
Aim and objectives: To determine whether drug-resistant migraine sufferers can benefit from rTMS, a form of high-frequency repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation, for migraine prevention.
Patients and methods: Fourty-two patients diagnosed with migraine were recruited for this prospective interventional trial from the Outpatient Clinic of the Neurology Department at Al-Azhar University Hospitals(Al-Hussein and Bab-Elshaarya University Hospitals) between August 2023 and March 2024. All patients were subjected to detailed medical and neurological history, CT brain, and/or MRI brain.
Results: There was a statistically significant difference in the number of migraine attacks in the first two weeks after rTMS, with the greatest improvement shown in the first two weeks of the current trial, which involved 42 patients. Statistical analysis revealed that migraine episode duration varied significantly across weeks, with the first two weeks showing the greatest improvement.
Conclusion: In patients suffering from chronic migraines, the use of high-frequency rTMS over the left motor cortex has been shown to alleviate pain, lessen the impact of headaches on daily life, and alleviate anxiety. The most notable improvements were noted in the first and second weeks of treatment with regard to functional disabilities, attack duration, severity, and number of attacks.

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