If you have two or more migraines each month, or if your attacks are very bad, you may want to ask your doctor about medication to prevent attacks.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
British National Formulary.
Prophylaxis of migraine.
Section 4.7.4.2. March 2008. BNF 55. British Medical Association and Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain. Also available at http://bnf.org (accessed on 24 July 2008).

 

 

 

 

 

¹

We haven't looked at these treatments in as much detail as the other treatments on our site. But we wanted to include some information about them.

Medications used to prevent migraines include beta blockers, a type of antihistamine and anti-epilepsy drugs.

Beta blockers slow your heart beat and are used to treat high blood pressure. But they also help some people with migraine. Beta blockers used to prevent migraine include propanolol (brand names Inderal, Inderide), metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol), nadolol (Corgard) and timolol (Blocadren). A study of propanolol showed it cut the number of migraines and reduced people's pain.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin.
Managing migraine.
Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin. 1998; 36: 41-44.

 

 

 

 

 

²

But some people get side effects from beta blockers. These include feeling nauseated, diarrhea, low blood pressure, cold hands and feet and headache. You shouldn't take beta blockers if you have asthma, because they can trigger an asthma attack.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
British National Formulary.
Prophylaxis of migraine.
Section 4.7.4.2. March 2008. BNF 55. British Medical Association and Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain. Also available at http://bnf.org (accessed on 24 July 2008).

 

 

 

 

 

¹

The antihistamine drug pizotifen is also used to prevent migraines. It's not available in the US. It can cause sleepiness, and some people find they put on weight while taking it.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
British National Formulary.
Prophylaxis of migraine.
Section 4.7.4.2. March 2008. BNF 55. British Medical Association and Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain. Also available at http://bnf.org (accessed on 24 July 2008).

 

 

 

 

 

¹

Anti-epilepsy drugs, including sodium valproate (Depakene, Depakote), topiramate (Topamax) and gabapentin (Neurontin, Gabarone) may help reduce migraine attacks. You'll take a lower dose than you would if you had epilepsy.

Anti-epilepsy drugs can all cause side effects in some people. Side effects of sodium valproate include nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, putting on weight and temporary hair loss. Side effects of topiramate include nausea, stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhea, a dry mouth, loss of appetite, tiredness, pins and needles and headache. Side effects of gabapentin include diarrhea and vomiting, dry mouth, nausea, dizziness and drowsiness.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
British National Formulary.
Prophylaxis of migraine.
Section 4.7.4.2. March 2008. BNF 55. British Medical Association and Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain. Also available at http://bnf.org (accessed on 24 July 2008).

 

 

 

 

 

¹

Some people take an antidepressant called amitryptyline for migraine. This is one of a group of drugs called tricyclic antidepressants. These drugs work well for some types of nerve pain. Side effects include dry mouth, sleepiness and blurred vision, vomiting, diarrhea and nausea.

 

 

 

 

 

Source:
British National Formulary.
Prophylaxis of migraine.
Section 4.7.4.2. March 2008. BNF 55. British Medical Association and Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain. Also available at http://bnf.org (accessed on 24 July 2008).

 

 

 

 

 

¹

Other ways of preventing migraine are being tested all the time. These include:

We don't know whether these new ways of preventing migraine help. We need to see more research.

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