Thirty patients with severe classical and common migraine participated in a double-blind placebo-controlled cross-over study of migraine prophylaxis with propranolol LA (long-acting) 80 mg once daily, or propranolol LA 160 mg once daily or placebo. Each treatment was given for two months. There were no significant differences between the three treatment periods in headache frequency, headache severity, nausea frequency or severity. There was a non-significant trend for reduced duration of headache with the two doses of propranolol. The possible reasons for this negative effect are discussed. The safety of propranolol and its lack of serious side effects were demonstrated.
Thirty healthy volunteers were treated with beta-adrenoceptor blocking doses of long-acting propranolol for at least 28 days before being randomized to continue propranolol treatment, receive identical placebo under double-blind conditions, or discontinue all treatment. No evidence of a central nervous withdrawal syndrome occurred during the next 28 days as assessed by changes in psychomotor tests, rating scales, visual analogue scales, tremor recordings and melatonin excretion. Three subjects in the placebo withdrawal group but none in the propranolol group complained of insomnia for up to 14 days of the withdrawal period.
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