Neuroendocrine effects of flunarizine treatment in postmenopausal women.

Flunarizine (10 mg/day for 60 days) was given to eight postmenopausal women with common migraine. Plasma LH pulsatility fluctuation, peripheral concentrations of prolactin (PRL), cortisol, beta-endorphin (beta-EP), beta-lipotropin (beta-LPH) and Pain Total Index (PTI) were evaluated before and after treatment. PTI was significantly reduced by flunarizine, which did not affect beta-LPH, beta-EP and cortisol plasma levels. On the contrary, both PRL values and amplitude, and length of LH pulses had increased at the end of treatment. Flunarizine reduced head pain in postmenopausal women. However, the enhancement of both PRL and LH release indicates that this calcium antagonist might interfere with the dopaminergic tonus.