Preventing migraines with a stroke drug?

December 28, 2007

Clopidogrel, which is also known as Plavix, is a drug used to prevent strokes and heart attacks. It works by preventing platelets from sticking together and causing a blood clot which can block a vessel in the heart or brain. Platelets also tend to become sticky in patients during a migraine attack, which is how this drug might help migraine sufferers. A British physician reported that a small number of patients given this drug stopped having migraine headaches after many years of unsuccessful treatments. A large study is currently under way to prove that this drug in fact works better than a placebo.

Written by
Alexander Mauskop, MD
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Insights from Dr. Alexander Mauskop on headaches and migraines
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