We recently covered why Topamax may help treat migraines, but today we’re going to discuss another type of migraine medication, called a beta blocker. Used properly, beta blockers may help people experience fewer migraines, allowing them to manage their headache pain. Like all medications, however, beta blockers are not a cure for migraines — migraines aren’t curable.
How Beta Blockers Treat Migraines
Scientists aren’t exactly sure how beta blockers help treat migraines, but they do know they can help.
According to Migraine.com, these drugs work work by changing how certain nerve pulses act inside the body, which can help reduce the frequency of headaches. Fluctuations in the communication of nerve cells has been suggested as a cause for migraines.
By taking these drugs regularly, people can help significantly reduce the frequency of their migraine attacks.
Are Beta Blockers Safe for Everyone?
Unfortunately, beta blockers are not safe for everybody. Women who are pregnant cannot take these drugs because they can affect the baby’s ability to breathe and maintain a normal heartbeat, which could be dangerous. It can also lower a baby’s blood pressure, which could cause additional complications. The chemicals can also pass into the mother’s breast milk, making it unsafe to use by breastfeeding women.
These drugs are also not safe for people with a history of depression — these drugs can worsen its intensity. Depressed people who take these drugs may feel more depressed or have suicidal thoughts. Some may even carry out these suicidal thoughts.
These drugs can also affect conditions that are affected by blood pressure, such as blood vessel disease. Beta blockers are also not safe for people with diabetes, kidney disease, liver disease, or psoriasis — it can worsen the effects of these conditions. These drugs may also hide the effects of complications in certain diseases, such as diabetes.
Beta blockers can be safe to use, however — they’re just not safe for everybody. Remember, only your doctor can determine which migraine medication is safe for you to take. Other health conditions or medications can make this drug unsafe to take, which may not be listed here.
Tags: beta blockers, migraine drugs, migraine medications, migraine treatments
I have been taking the beta blocker Metatoprol for heart in the AM for 10 years,i also wake up with migraine 3 or 4 times a month .A month ago i started taking it PM and have not had a headache since then,i don’t know how it works but would encourage anyone with migraines to try it.