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Can Verapamil Be Taken For Migraine Headache?
Question: I have brain stem migraine with aura. Today, I was very sensitive to light, and feel this dizzying pressure in the base of my skull that is sometimes a dull pain. It also makes me nauseous. Is there any way to reduce the frequency of these symptoms? My doctor recommended Verapamil, however, I am reluctant to take it as my blood pressure is already a little low. I also just really don't like taking medications if I can avoid it. If i started taking this medicine, how is it that it would improve my symptoms? I suppose I am asking what the mechanism would be. Thank you for taking the time to consider this!
Brief Answer:
Verapamil is a valid suggestion.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern in taking this drug.
It is a little difficult to answer your question because what you must realize is that there is not yet a single theory on how migraine headaches develops. There are different hypotheses involving changes in the vascular wall, trigeminal nerve complex or changes in the cerebral cortex. So while there are many drugs recommended from studies for migraine prevention it is not always completely clear how they work.
Verapamil is one of these recommended drugs. It acts on the calcium channels in the vessel wall enabling the vessel wall muscle relaxation and thus since cranial vessel constriction is involved in migraine headache genesis that is the supposed mechanism of action, inhibiting constriction of the vessels.
It is commonly used in basilar (brain stem) migraine as some of the symptoms are thought to be related to vessel constriction. So your doctor's suggestion is a valid one.
One other option recommended in particular for basilar migraine if your low blood pressure is a concern to you is an anticonvulsant called topiramate.
These drugs if taken should be taken for a long time though, so you should take that into account since you are not so enthusiastic of medication. There is no guarantee of success and the aim is to reduce the severity and frequency of symptoms not make them disappear altogether, so the decision whether to try them or not depends on how frequent the symptoms are and how much they affect your everyday life.
I hope to have been of help.
Verapamil is a valid suggestion.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern in taking this drug.
It is a little difficult to answer your question because what you must realize is that there is not yet a single theory on how migraine headaches develops. There are different hypotheses involving changes in the vascular wall, trigeminal nerve complex or changes in the cerebral cortex. So while there are many drugs recommended from studies for migraine prevention it is not always completely clear how they work.
Verapamil is one of these recommended drugs. It acts on the calcium channels in the vessel wall enabling the vessel wall muscle relaxation and thus since cranial vessel constriction is involved in migraine headache genesis that is the supposed mechanism of action, inhibiting constriction of the vessels.
It is commonly used in basilar (brain stem) migraine as some of the symptoms are thought to be related to vessel constriction. So your doctor's suggestion is a valid one.
One other option recommended in particular for basilar migraine if your low blood pressure is a concern to you is an anticonvulsant called topiramate.
These drugs if taken should be taken for a long time though, so you should take that into account since you are not so enthusiastic of medication. There is no guarantee of success and the aim is to reduce the severity and frequency of symptoms not make them disappear altogether, so the decision whether to try them or not depends on how frequent the symptoms are and how much they affect your everyday life.
I hope to have been of help.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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