Propranolol plasma binding and serum lipids during chronic therapy in migraine patients

Plasma protein binding of propranolol (PROP) was determined in 18 migraine patients chronically treated with different doses (from 60 to 240 mg/day) of the drug. In 9 patients serum lipids and PROP binding were determined before and during the therapy. Free fractions of PROP ranged from 4.7 to 13.3% and they were similar to those found in vitro in healthy volunteers. Total and free concentrations were highly correlated (r = 0.929; p less than 0.001); correlations between daily doses (in mg/kg) and free and total concentrations were very similar: r = 0.76 and r = 0.73 respectively. Changes in binding and serum lipids during the therapy were insignificant and unrelated.