Prophylactic and Therapeutic Properties of 1-Methyl-Lysergic Acid Butanolamide in Migraine

Antagonism by Methysergide of Vascular Effects of 5‐hydroxytryptamine in Man

“…Methysergide was, therefore, considered to be a specific and effective antagonist of peripheral vasoconstrictor effects of 5-HT. Although it is difficult to extrapolate drug actions from one vascular bed to another this action of methysergide may contribute to its effectiveness in preventing migraine, the prodromal stage of which is associated with vasoconstriction of extracranial and intracranial arteries, an action ascribed in part to 5-HT (Sicuteri, 1959).…”

Metisergida como profilaxia de migrânea e cefaleia em salvas, e a possível ocorrência de fibrose retroperitoneal: relato de casos

“…In the 1950s and 1960s, its association to migraine was progressively established by some studies 10,11,[15][16][17] . The search for some serotonin receptors antagonist with good tolerability has led to the synthesis of methysergide, which was introduced in the clinical practice in 1959 by Italian neurologist Federigo Sicuteri, from the Department of Clinical Pharmacology, University of Florence 18 . In line with Wolff, he also stated that local release of substances such as serotonin, histamine, bradykinin, among others, would lead to increased arterial tone, participating on the pathophysiology of some chronic headaches, such as migraine and cluster headache.…”

Placebo Effect and Clinical Trials in Migraine Therapy

“…Although this is well known, good data on the placebo effect is difficult to obtain. In early studies on prophylactic antimigraine medi cations, this effect was thought to be minimal, e.g., the first study on methysergide therapy [15] reported a virtual absence of placebo effect. The next study with the same drug [6] reported that about 27% of patients on placebo were improved.…”