Table 2.

Preventive treatments in migraine

Agents and doses	Selected adverse events
“Stringent” drugs
β-blockers (q.d.) Propranolol: 40–160 mg bisoprolol: 2.5–10 mg Metoprolol: 50–200 mg	Reduced energy, tiredness, postural hypotension, bronchoconstriction,
Valproic acid/sodium valproate 500–1000 mg qd (sustained release)	Sedation, nausea, weight gain, tremor, hair loss, Liver toxicity, teratogenicity
Topiramate 25–100 mg bid	Paresthesias, fatigue, dysgeusia, nausea, cognitive dysfunction, depression
Flunarizine 5–10 mg qd	Weight gain, depression, drowsiness, parkinsonism
Methysergide 1–4 mg bid	Drowsiness, leg cramps, weight gain, Fibrosis (except if 1 month drug holiday every 6 months)
Amitriptyline 25–75 mg qd	Weight gain, dry mouth, sedation, drowsiness
“Less stringent” drugs
Riboflavin 400 mg qd
Coenzyme Q10 100 mg tid
Lisinopril 10–20 mg q.d.	Cough
Candesartan 16 mg qd
Magnesium 24–30 mmol qd	Abdominal cramps, diarrhea
Petasites (butterbur)
Tanacetum parthenium (feverfew)