COMPARISON OF PROPRANOLOL LA 80 MG AND PROPRANOLOL LA 160 MG IN MIGRAINE PROPHYLAXIS - A PLACEBO-CONTROLLED STUDY

Thirty patients with severe classical and common migraine participated in a double-blind placebo-controlled cross-over study of migraine pro phylaxis with propranolol LA (long-acting) 80 mg once daily, or propra nolol LA 160 mg once daily or placebo. Each treatment was given for tw o months. There were no significant differences between the three trea tment periods in headache frequency, headache severity, nausea frequen cy or severity. There was a non-significant trend for reduced duration of headache with the two doses of propranolol. The possible reasons f or this negative effect are discussed. The safety of propranolol and i ts lack of serious side effects were demonstrated.