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The prevention of migraine: a critical review with special emphasis on β‐adrenoceptor blockers
Author(s) -
Limmroth Volker,
Michel Martin C.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
british journal of clinical pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.216
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1365-2125
pISSN - 0306-5251
DOI - 10.1046/j.0306-5251.2001.01459.x
Subject(s) - migraine , medicine , propranolol , metoprolol , valproic acid , flunarizine , population , clinical trial , intensive care medicine , prophylactic treatment , anesthesia , pharmacology , epilepsy , psychiatry , environmental health , calcium
Migraine is one of the most frequent neurological disorders affecting up to 15% of the general population. Many patients require not only management of individual migraine episodes but also prophylactic treatment. β‐adrenoceptor blockers, flunarizine and valproic acid have been established as first‐line agents for the prophylaxis of migraine attacks. Among the β‐adrenoceptor blockers propranolol and metoprolol are best documented and hence deserve preferential use. On the other hand, it appears that other β‐adrenoceptor blockers, perhaps with the exception of those with intrinsic sympathomimetic activity, can be equally effective. Uncertainties regarding the relative merits of various treatment modalities are largely caused by lack of adherence to specific requirements for clinical trials on migraine prophylaxis. Therefore, this article reviews internationally recommended conditions for reliable studies on migraine prophylaxis and appraises individual agents in the light of these criteria.