Pathogenesis of Migraine
GABA is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the CNS. GABA plays an important role in the modulation of pain threshold. The antiepileptic drugs valproate and topiramate, the most efficacious drugs in preventing migraine without aura attacks, are potent GABAergic agonists. Other than this, however, direct evidence for a role of GABA-related abnormalities in migraine is very scarce. One study has shown that plasma levels of GABA are not detectable during migraine attacks, but after this phase, its plasma levels increase, suggesting that activation of the GABAergic pathways is necessary to end the pain crisis.
GABA and Migraine
GABA is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the CNS. GABA plays an important role in the modulation of pain threshold. The antiepileptic drugs valproate and topiramate, the most efficacious drugs in preventing migraine without aura attacks, are potent GABAergic agonists. Other than this, however, direct evidence for a role of GABA-related abnormalities in migraine is very scarce. One study has shown that plasma levels of GABA are not detectable during migraine attacks, but after this phase, its plasma levels increase, suggesting that activation of the GABAergic pathways is necessary to end the pain crisis.