PEDIATRICS Vol. 100 No. 6 December 1997, pp. 977-981
Effective Prophylactic Therapy for Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome in Children Using Amitriptyline or Cyproheptadine
Received Dec 16, 1996; accepted May 12, 1997.

From the Departments of * Pediatrics and
Neurology,
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and Children's Medical
Center, Dallas, Texas.
Objective. To evaluate our experience using the antimigraine prophylactic drugs, amitriptyline and cyproheptadine, for the prophylactic management of cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS) in children.
Methods and Patients. Twenty-seven patients (16 males)
ranging in age from 2 to 16 years at diagnosis, fulfilling the
diagnostic criteria for CVS and treated prophylactically with either
amitriptyline (22) or/and cyproheptadine (6) were identified through
retrospective chart review. Individual patient data were corroborated
by the attending physician and/or interviews with patients and
families. Minimum follow-up time before entry into the study group was
5 months. Patients were stratified according to three treatment outcomes: 1) complete response
no attacks, 2) partial response
50% or greater reduction in frequency of attacks, and 3) no response
less than 50% decrease in frequency of attacks.
Results. Of the 22 patients treated with amitriptyline, 16 (73%) had a complete response while 4 (18%) had a partial response. Of the 6 patients treated with cyproheptadine, 4 (66%) had a complete response and 1 (17%) had a partial response. Thus, 91% of the amitriptyline group and 83% of the cyproheptadine group had at least a partial response to therapy. No patients experienced significant side effects to either medication.
Conclusion. The antimigraine prophylactic drugs, amitriptyline and cyproheptadine, represent effective prophylactic agents for the management of CVS in the vast majority of patients fulfilling the diagnostic criteria for this syndrome.
Key words: cyclic vomiting syndrome, migraine, amitriptyline, cyproheptadine.
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