Role of glutamate and its receptors in migraine with reference to amitriptyline and transcranial magnetic stimulation therapy

Glutamate levels (P = 0.006) and NR2B receptor expressions (P < 0.001) were significantly higher in migraine patients compared to the controls. Chronic migraine patients had higher glutamate level (P = 0.05). Glutamate and NR2B receptor declined after treatment (P < 0.001). There was a decline in glutamate levels following rTMS (P = 0.03), sham stimulation (P = 0.05) and AMT treatment (P = 0.003). NR2B receptors also declined after rTMS (P = 0.005) and AMT treatment (P = 0.01). It can be concluded that migraine is associated with high plasma glutamate and NR2B receptor which decline following AMT or rTMS therapy.