What are your preferred beta blockers for migraine prevention treatment?
Do you find benefit in trialing a second or third beta-blocker if the first does not lead to improvement? In light of Pringsheim et al., PMID 42673559.
2 Answers
Mednet MemberInvited Expert
Neurology · Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Answered on
Beta blockers, originally developed for cardiovascular disease, were serendipitously discovered to reduce the frequency and severity of migraine attacks in the late 1960s. They remain the most widely used class of prescription preventive medications for migraine. Among beta-blockers, only propranolo...
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Mednet MemberInvited Expert
Neurology · Greater Boston Headache Center at Boston Advanced Medicine
Answered on
There is good clinical trial evidence for the efficacy of six beta-blockers in migraine prevention. In alphabetical order, these are: atenolol, bisoprolol, metoprolol, nadolol, propranolol, and timolol. They share a lack of partial agonist or intrinsic sympathomimetic activity. This means that they ...
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