Propranolol in the treatment of migraine.
Beta-blocking drugs that prevent cranial vasodilatation are potentially valuable in the prophylaxis of migraine. Forty-nine patients with either classic or common migraine were treated with propranolol 160 mg/day for an average of six months. The first 30 of the patients to respond well to this treatment then participated in a double-blind cross-over trial with a placebo and propranolol. The mean frequency of headache attacks was significantly reduced by propranolol. None of the patients expressed a preference for placebo. Propranolol seems to be an effective prophylactic for common and classic migraine but the antimigraine properties of the various beta-blocking agents probably differ.
D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D010919:Placebos; D011433:Propranolol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012119:Respiration / Q000187:drug effects; D012140:Respiratory Tract Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced
D010919:Placebos; D011433:Propranolol