Why Was Verapamil Used for Preventing Migraine?
In general, medications used for preventing migraines can reduce the severity, number, and duration of migraine attacks. In the past, doctors believed that an increase in blood pressure may lead to this health issue. That’s why verapamil was previously prescribed for preventing migraines. However, there is week evidence for the effectiveness of the drug on migraine prevention. Therefore, many doctors do not prescribe verapamil for this purpose. [4]
Pros and Cons of Verapamil for Preventing Migraine
The advantages of using verapamil for preventing migraines include:
– Effective for treating cluster headaches
– Can be purchased as an oral drug in many forms, including tablet and capsule
– Available as generic, which reduces the price
– May help those with headaches and high blood pressure
The disadvantages of using verapamil for preventing migraines include:
– You need to take it regularly instead of only when a migraine attack happens
– Possible severe side effects appear, such as heart-related issues or low blood pressure
– It would take a few weeks for the effects to work
– Weak evidence of effectiveness for treating migraines [5]
