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NCT Number: NCT06248671

Prophylactic Treatment With Atorvastatin for Episodic Migraine.

The main objective of this study is to see whether the favorable preventative effect of Atorvastatin 40mg per day in episodic migraine, that was found previously in three smaller randomized controlled cross-over studies, can be confirmed in a larger, multicenter, randomized controlled parallel group study. In addition it will be investigated whether 1) there is an effect of a daily dose of 20mg Atorvastatin, 2) whether the favorable side effect profile, seen in previous studies, can be confirmed, and whether it is even better with the smaller dose, and 3) estimating the cost of Atorvastatin treatment, considering cost of medicine, cost of acute attack medicine, and cost of lost worktime.

Recruiting

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Key information

Age range

18 year–65 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 2

Primary location

Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway

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Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Age 18 to 65 years.
  • Signed informed consent.
  • Episodic migraine with or without aura according to ICHD-3 criteria.
  • At inclusion, patients should retrospectively have from 4 to 14 migraine attacks per month during the last 3 months. This frequency must be confirmed in the headache diary before randomisation to treatment.
  • Debut of migraine at least one year prior to inclusion based on information in the patient record or by careful examination of previous headache history.
  • Start of migraine before 50 years.
  • No use of other migraine prophylactics during the study.
  • For women of child-bearing potential, there must be no pregnancy or planned pregnancy during the study period, and use of highly effective contraception.

After the baseline period, just before randomisation to the study drug, inclusion criteria will be evaluated once more, and the headache diary will be evaluated. If there are, according to the headache diary, fewer attacks than 4 or more than 14 per month, the baseline period can be extended to 8 weeks, and the patient can be randomized to a treatment then if there is a mean of 4-14 attacks per 4 weeks during the 8-week's period.

Exclusion criteria

  • Interval headache not distinguishable from migraine.
  • Chronic migraine, chronic tension-type headache, medication overuse headache or other headache occurring on ≥ 15 days/month.
  • Pregnancy, planning to get pregnant, inability to use contraceptives, and lactating.
  • Clinical information on or signs of cholestasis or decreased hepatic or renal function.
  • High degree of comorbidity and/or frailty associated with reduced life expectancy or high likelihood of hospitalization, at the discretion of the investigator.
  • Hypersensitivity to statins or previous use of statins.
  • History of angioneurotic oedema.
  • Use of medicines for migraine prophylaxis less than 4 weeks, or of botulinum toxin less than 16 weeks, prior to start of study.
  • Current use of antiviral treatment against hepatitis C.
  • Significant psychiatric illness.
  • Having tried ≥ 3 prophylactic drugs against migraine during the last 10 years.
  • Requiring detoxification from acute medication (triptans, opioids).
  • Consistently failing to respond to any acute migraine medication.
  • Alcohol or illicit drug dependence.
  • Inability to understand study procedures and to comply with them for the entire length of the study.
  • Treatment for hypothyroidism.
  • Lactose intolerance.

Treatment and study plan

Atorvastatin 40mg

Drug

Each tablet will be taken once daily for 84 days.

Other names: Lipitor

Placebo

Drug

Each tablet will be taken once daily for 84 days

Atorvastatin 20mg

Drug

Each tablet will be taken once daily for 84 days.

Other names: Lipitor

Primary outcomes

  1. Number of migraine days

    Time frame: 4 weeks

    Change in number of migraine days/4 weeks from the baseline period to the treatment period.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Number of responders

    Time frame: 12 weeks

    Number of responders (≥ 50% improvement from baseline)

  2. Rate of adverse events

    Time frame: 12 weeks

    Number of patients with adverse events

  3. Number of doses with acute medication

    Time frame: 12 weeks

    Doses of triptans or analgesics per 4 weeks

  4. Number of days with sick leave

    Time frame: 12 weeks

    Days with sick leave per 4 weeks

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Joakim H Østhus, Cand.med.

CONTACT

[email protected]

0047 93837036

Lise R Øie, Post.doc.

CONTACT

[email protected]

0047 41419596

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

St. Olavs Hospital

Other

Collaborators

  • Haukeland University Hospital
  • Ullevaal University Hospital
  • University Hospital of North Norway
  • University Hospital, Akershus

Registry information

Official study title

EpisodicStatinMig. A Multicentre, Triple Blind, Placebo Controlled, Parallel Group Study of Atorvastatin in Episodic Migraine

Acronym: EStatinMig

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2028
Study completion
2029
First posted
Feb 8, 2024
Registry last updated
Jul 14, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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