Conditions: Migraine
Allocation: NON_RANDOMIZED | Intervention model: SINGLE_GROUP
Enrollment: 31
Healthy volunteers: no

Brief summary:
The study drug levetiracetam is FDA approved as an add-on medication in the treatment of partial onset seizures in adults with epilepsy. The trade name is Keppra®. This is an "open-label" trial, which means that all participating patients will receive active study drug.

The Jefferson Headache Center has developed this clinical study to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of levetiracetam in preventing migraine headaches, with or without aura (visual disturbances).

In addition, the study site will be performing a procedure called Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). This procedure measures brain activity because it is thought that people with migraine experience periods of cortical hyperexcitability or over-activity in the brain. This information may help physicians in the future determine which preventive medications will work for which patients.

Detailed description:

Arms:
arm 1: Subject titrated open-label study drug to maximally tolerated dose: maximum: 3000 mg. per date. (minimum allowed daily dose to remain in study: 1000)

Interventions: intervention 1: levetiracetam intervention 2: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: Daily dose of open label levatiracetam was 3000 mg. or maximally tolerated dose. (Maximum daily dose: 3000 mg. Minimum daily dose allowed for study participation:1000 mg) intervention 2: None

Protocol document: