Comparative study of nadolol and propranolol in prophylactic treatment of migraine

Forty-eight patients (13 men and 35 women) took part in a double-blind randomized study. All patients received a placebo daily for 4 weeks (period A), at the end of which the frequency and severity of headaches experienced by each patient were assessed. Patients then received an active drug for 12 weeks (period B). Sixteen patients received nadolol, 80 mg/day; 16 received nadolol, 160 mg/day; and 16 received propranolol, 160 mg/day. The frequency and severity of headaches in the three groups were tabulated at the end of period B, as were the side effects. Only three subjects dropped out during the study, and one of these needed abdominal surgery. All three groups reported improvement, the most noticeable being in those patients who received 80 mg of nadolol daily.