Overview

Verapamil vs. Sertraline for Vestibular Migraine & Chronic Subjective Dizziness

Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2014-10-01
Target enrollment:
0
Participant gender:
All
Summary
Vestibular migraine (VM) and chronic subjective dizziness (CSD) commonly cause vertigo, unsteadiness and dizziness. Clinical investigators are studying these illnesses to understand them better. VM and CSD occur together in about 1/3 of patients. That makes it hard to diagnose them accurately and decide what treatments to use. As a result, doctors and patients may be confused about these diagnoses. The goal of this study was use two different medications to tease apart the symptoms of VM and CSD. Patients who have VM and CSD together were given either verapamil or sertraline for 12 weeks. These medications are used to treat VM and CSD, though they are not approved for this purpose. Verapamil is believed to have stronger effects on symptoms of VM. Sertraline is believed to have stronger effects on symptoms of CSD. By comparing the responses of patients to these two medications, the researchers hoped to learn more about the key features of VM and CSD.
Phase:
Phase 1
Accepts Healthy Volunteers?
No
Details
Lead Sponsor:
Mayo Clinic
Treatments:
Sertraline
Verapamil
Criteria
Inclusion criteria:

1. Neurotologic diagnoses of both vestibular migraine and chronic subjective dizziness

2. All other co-existing medical or psychiatric conditions are stable, and no greater
than moderate severity

3. Able to complete study assessments in person and by phone

4. Able to travel to Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota for first and last study visits

5. Willing to avoid pregnancy during study (abstinence or acceptable birth control)

Exclusion criteria:

1. Presence of any other active neurotologic diagnoses

2. Medical or psychiatric conditions that would preclude or confound study drugs

3. Use of medications or supplements that would preclude or confound study drugs

4. Past treatment of headache or dizziness with a full trial of a calcium channel blocker
or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor

5. Allergy to verapamil or sertraline