Flunarizine and cinnarizine in the prophylaxis of vestibular migraine and migraine-associated meniere's disease: An 8-month retrospective study

Vestibular migraine (VM) and migraine-associated Menière's disease (MAMD) are common causes of recurrent vertigo, often resulting in substantial disability and impaired quality of life. Preventive therapy is challenging, and calcium channel antagonists such as flunarizine and cinnarizine have been proposed as effective options, though comparative evidence remains limited.

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Findings are preliminary given the retrospective, uncontrolled design; audiologists and vestibular specialists should note the results as hypothesis-generating but should not change prescribing or co-management protocols until confirmed by prospective controlled trials.

Vestibular migraine and migraine-associated Menière's disease are notoriously difficult to treat, and evidence supporting specific prophylactic drug choices remains thin, making any real-world outcomes data relevant to multidisciplinary teams managing these patients.

1. 01Retrospective 8-month study evaluating flunarizine and cinnarizine for vestibular migraine prophylaxis.
2. 02Also covers the overlapping diagnosis of migraine-associated Menière's disease, a challenging dual condition.
3. 03Published in European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology (DOI: 10.1007/s00405-026-10537-w).
4. 04Retrospective design limits causal inference; no control or placebo group reported.
5. 05Calcium-channel blockers are already used off-label in these conditions, adding modest real-world data.

PMID

42572044

DOI

10.1007/s00405-026-10537-w.

Journal

European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology

Publication type

research_article

Evidence level

4

Population

Patients diagnosed with vestibular migraine or migraine-associated Menière's disease receiving prophylactic pharmacotherapy

Intervention

Flunarizine and cinnarizine as prophylactic treatment