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Migraine Headache Prophylaxis: 8 Preventive Therapies

Beta-Blockers

This is another preventive therapy for migraine headaches. Beta-blockers [4] are medications that block the actions of the hormone adrenaline, therefore help reduce one’s heart rate and blood pressure. Beta-blockers are the most commonly prescribed medication for migraine prophylaxis, and they can be either nonselective, cardioselective, or third generation.

Its Effectiveness

Certain beta-blockers such as metoprolol have shown to be effective for reducing migraine frequency by as much as 50 percent. Propranolol is another beta-blocker that has proven to be effective in reducing migraine frequency, duration, and severity. Timolol and atenolol are also effective medication for migraine.

Its Side Effects

You may experience some side effects of beta-blockers such as drowsiness, fatigue, weight gain, sleep disturbance, dry mouth, and more. Beta-blockers as a preventive medication for migraine can take months before it starts to show effectiveness.