Using Botox and Other Medicines Designed for Other Ailments in Treating Migraine at migraines reports

Can Botox help prevent migraines?

Botox (botulinum toxin) is a purified protein that belongs to a class of compounds known as neurotoxins that initially approved the US Food & Drug Administration to treat eye muscle disorders known as strabismus and blepharospasm. Since then, obviously, its use has extended to other, more cosmetic uses. Botox weakens or paralyzes (depending on dose) muscles by preventing the release of acetylcholine, a signal that the nerves need to cause muscle contraction. This is the same substance that is produced in spoiled food and causes the illness known as botulism. However, in medical use, the Botox is injected directly into the muscles involved rather than absorbed into the bloodstream, and the doses used are much less than those that cause botulism.

The jury is still out on whether Botox will ever make it into the realm of medical treatment that patients naturally turn to for migraine relief, but if you think that that Botox is the only treatment found to help with migraine that was originally created for treatment for another ailment, take a look at this list. Everything on it has been used in migraine relief and everything on it was originally designed for use against something else.

ANTIHYPERTENSIVES (blood pressure meds)
Alpha-2 agonists:

· Clonidine, aka Catapres

· Guanfacine, aka Tenex

ACE Inhibitors:

· Benazepril, aka Lotensin

· Captopril, aka Capoten

· Enalapril, aka Vasotec

· Fosinopril, aka Monopril

· Lisinopril, aka Zestril, Prinivil

· Moexipril, aka Univasc

· Perindopril, aka Aceon

· Quinapril, aka Accupril

· Ramipril, aka Altace

· Trandolapril, aka Mavik

Angiotensin II Inhibitors:

· Candesartan, aka Atacand

· Eprosartan, aka Teveten

· Irbesartan, aka Avapro

· Losartan, aka Cozaar

· Olmesartan, aka Benicar

· Telmisartan, aka Midcardis

· Valsartan, aka Diovan

Beta Blockers:

· Acebutolol, aka Secral

· Atenolol, aka Tenormin

· Betaxolol, aka Kerlone

· Bisoprolol, aka Zebeta, Emconcor

· Cartelol, aka Cartrol

· Labetalol, aka Normodyne, Trandate

· Metoprolol, aka Lopressor

· Nadolol, aka Corgard

· Penbutololm aka Levatol

· Pindolol, aka Visken, Syn-Pindolol

· Propranolol, aka Inderal

· Timolol, aka Blocadren

Calcium Channel Blockers:

· Amlodipine, aka Norvasc

· Bepridil, aka Vascor

· Diltiazem, aka Cardizem, Tiazac

· Felodipine, aka Plendil

· Flunarizine, aka Sibelium (Canada)

· Isradipine, aka DynaCirc

· Nicardipine, aka Cardene

· Nifedipine, aka Adalat, Procardia

· Nimodipine, aka Nimotop

· Nisoldipine, aka Sular

· Verapamil, aka Calan, Verelan, Isoptin

Other Antihypertensives:

· Guanfacine, aka Tenex

· Mirtazapine, aka Remeron

ANTIHISTAMINES:

· Cyproheptadine, aka Periactin

· Pizotifen, aka Sandomigran (UK)

ANTIDEPRESSANTS
Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs):

· Amitriptyline, aka Elavil (discontinued), Endep

· Amoxapine, aka Asendin

· Clomipramine, aka, Anafranil

· Desipramine, aka Norpramin

· Doxepin, aka Sinequan

· Imipramine, aka Norfranil, Tofranil

· Nortriptyline, aka Pamelor, Aventyl

· Protriptyline, aka Vivactil

· Trimipramine, aka Surmontil

MAOI Antidepressants:

· Isocarboxazid, aka Marplan

· Phenelzine, aka Nardil

· Tranylcypromine, aka Parnate

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs):

· Citalopram, aka Celexa

· Escitalopram oxalate, aka Lexapro

· Fluoxetine, aka Prozac

· Fluvoxamine, aka Luvox

· Paroxetine, aka Paxil

· Sertraline, aka Zoloft

Selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SSNRIs):

· Duloxetine hydrochloride, aka Cymbalta

Other Antidepressants:

· Bupropion, aka Wellbutrin, Zyban

· Mirtazepine, aka Remeron

· Trazodone, aka Desyrel

· Venlafaxine, aka Effexor, Effexor XR

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Meds
Selective Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor:

· Atomoxetine HCl, aka Strattera

ARTHRITIS MEDS
Cox-2 Enzyme Inhibitors:

· Celecoxib, aka Celebrex

NEURONAL STABILIZING AGENTS (antiseizure meds)

· Carbamazepine, aka Tegretol

· Clonazepam, Klonopin

· Clorazepate, aka Tranxene

· Divalproex, aka Depakote

· Gabapentin, aka Neurontin

· Levetiracetam, Keppra

· Lamotrigine, aka Lamictal

· Oxcarbazepine, Trileptal

· Tiagabine, aka Gabitril

· Topiramate, aka Topamax

· Valproate Sodium, aka Depacon

· Zonisamide, aka Zonegran

Ergot Alkaloid:

· Methylergonovine, aka Methergine (the only ergot used as a preventive)

Leukotriene Blockers:

· Montelukast, aka Singulair

· Zafirlukast, aka Accolate

· Zyleuton, aka Zyflo

Other:

· Baclofen, aka Lioresal

· Botulinum Toxin Type A, aka Botox

Dietary Supplements:

· Coenzyme Q10

· Feverfew

· Butterbur, aka Petadolex

· Magnesium

· Vitamin B2

· 5-HTP (Check carefully with doctor because of interactions with meds including triptans)

· Lecithin

Consumer Reports – Migraines : http://www.reports24.com