Propranolol (Inderal) belongs to the beta-blocker family of medications and it was approved by the FDA in 1967 for the treatment of high blood pressure. About a decade later it became the first drug to be approved by the FDA for the preventive treatment of migraine headaches. Propranolol is also used for essential tremor, performance anxiety, fast heart beating (tachycardia), angina, and other conditions. In 1988, a British scientist Sir James Black was awarded the Nobel Prize for the discovery of propranolol.
Propranolol is a very effective drug, but because it can lower blood pressure, side effects such as fatigue, lightheadedness, and fainting can occur. Because it slows down the heart rate it can also make it difficult to exercise, which is one of the best ways to prevent migraines. Propranolol can sometimes worsen pre-existing asthma but newer beta-blockers do not have this problem.
If someone along with migraines has a rapid heartbeat, anxiety, or difficulty making public presentations, this drug can provide dual benefits.
A typical starting dose of propranolol is 60 mg of the long-acting formulation. The dose is then increased to 80, 120, and 160 mg, if needed and if tolerated.
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