[Raynaud's phenomenon and calcium blocking agents. A preliminary open study with flunarizine]. / Fenomeno di Raynaud e farmaci calcio-antagonisti. Studio preliminare in aperto con flunarizina.

Raynaud's phenomenon (Raynaud's disease), an accessual vascular acrosyndrome characterised by an important constriction of distal arterioles, has still no specific pharmacological therapy. In the last years, the use of calcium-entry-blockers (nifedipine, diltiazem, verapamil, nicardipine), drugs able to control the contractility of the vessels, showed some positive results. Considering this data, we appraised the efficacy of flunarizine, another calcium-entry-blocker, in a preliminary study of 28 patients (23 females, 5 males, aged between 15 and 48 years) suffering from Raynaud's disease. Apart from a statistically insignificant improvement of subjective symptoms (i.e. acroparesthesias, cold extremities) flunarizine (10 mg/day for 1 month) did not have positive results. Finally, this drug caused some side-effects: drowsiness, increase of weight and appetite, but without a real necessity for withdrawal of therapy.

Flunarizine in migraine prophylaxis: efficacy and tolerability of 5 mg and 10 mg dose levels.

The use of flunarizine, a drug which has proven its efficacy in migraine, is often associated with important side effects. The aim of this paper has been to check their incidence at different dose levels (5 mg vs 10 mg). Our data confirm the occurrence of important side effects (in particular weight gain); on the other hand, they emphasize the dose-dependency of the side effects.

"Hemicrania continua": a new clinical entity or a further development from cluster headache? A case report.

A case of "hemicrania continua" after cluster headache in the same subject is described. Indomethacin exerted an absolute, persistent effect on the present headache. Even though our data are insufficient to demonstrate a causal relation between the two forms of headache, they do suggest this real possibility.