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Clonidine is widely used in Europe to prevent migraine headaches, but U.S. studies have not shown its effectiveness. In this double-blind crossover trial, 43 outpatients received either transdermal clonidine (the equivalent of 0.2 mg per day taken orally) or wore a placebo patch for six weeks, followed by six weeks of the opposite treatment. Patients were allowed to use over-the-counter analgesics and prescribed narcotics as needed; they kept daily records of their headaches and the pain medications used.
Overall, the patients reported a slight, nonsignificant decrease in the frequency, duration, and intensity of headaches while wearing the clonidine patch, and they used significantly less class II narcotics for pain. About 63 percent prefer…