Prevention of migraine using bisoprolol. Results of a double-blind study versus metoprolol
Wörz, R.; Reinhardt-Benmalek, B.; Föh, M.; Grotemeyer, K.H.; Scharafinski, H.W.
Fortschritte der Medizin 110(14): 268-272
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0015-8178 PMID: 1351025 Document Number: 393887
Comparison of bisoprolol, a beta-1 selective beta blocker with no intrinsic sympathomimetic activity (ISA) and metoprolol, which numerous studies have shown to be an effective migraine prophylactic. Multicentric, cross-over study. 125 patients suffering at least from 3 attacks of classic or common migraine a month for at least two years. Bisoprolol 5 mg given once a day, or metoprolol 50 mg given twice a day, for two periods of 12 weeks. 125 patients were admitted to the 4-week run-in phase. A comparison of the main target: frequency of migraine attacks was thus carried out in 78 patients (f. = 63, m. = 15). Both substances reduced the average frequency of migraine per 28-day period by about 50%. There was no statistically significant difference between the two beta-blockers (p greater than 0.05). The results of the study show that 5 mg of bisoprolol and 100 mg of metoprolol a day have comparable efficacy for migraine prophylaxis, and show comparable tolerability.