Blood Pressure Medications for Migraines

For every 1 million people in the world, there are 3,000 daily migraine attacks, reports the World Health Organization. There are a number of possible treatments for decreasing the frequency of migraines, including the use of blood pressure medications.

Function

Blood pressure medications use different methods to improve the flow of blood through your blood vessels. Although doctors do not understand why, this increase in blood flow helps alleviate migraines in some patients, reports the Mayo Clinic.

Types of Medication

A variety of classes of blood pressure medications work to relieve migraines, including beta blockers like metoprolol and sotalol, calcium channel blockers like verapamil, ACE inhibitors like lisinopril and angiotensin II inhibitors like candesartan.

Time Frame

Blood pressure medications do not always relieve migraines immediately. It can take up to three months of treatment for the frequency of your migraines to decrease, reports My Migraine Connection.

Risks

The most common side effects of blood pressure medications are dizziness, drowsiness and lightheadedness. Because of this, you should not drive a car or operate heavy machinery until you know how your medication affects you.

Considerations

Not every blood pressure medication works to relieve migraines in every patient. It may be necessary for you to try many different medications until you find one that is effective and does not cause side effects that interfere with your daily life.

References

• Mayo Clinic: Migraines
• My Migraine Connection: Blood Pressure Medications and Migraines
• World Health Organization: Migraine Statistics