Common drugs taken by up to 10million Americans for anxiety and high blood pressure may lower the risk of stroke in some at-risk people, a study suggests.
Propranolol, a type of drug known as a ‘beta blocker’ which dampens the effects of adrenaline, reduced the risk of stroke by up to 50 percent in women with chronic migraines.
Researchers from Vanderbilt University combed through more than 3million medical records and found while the drug made a notable difference for women, there was no effect in men with migraines.
Scientists believe migraines lead to spasms in the brain’s arteries and, over time, these block blood flow to the brain, increasing the risk of blood clots and strokes.
It’s thought propranolol prevents blood vessels from dilating and causing spasms.
The findings, therefore, suggest using propranolol, which costs less than a dollar per pill, to treat migraine in women may lower their risk of stroke.
Stroke is one of America’s leading causes of death, striking 800,000 Americans each year, or one every 40 seconds. About 160,000 people die from a stroke every year.
Dr Mulubrhan Mogos, lead study author and assistant professor at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, said: ‘Migraine is an often-ignored risk factor for cardiovascular issues. Until recently, preventive treatments for people who have migraines were not available.’
New research from Vanderbilt University found the beta blocker propranolol lowered stroke risk in women with migraine by up to 50 percent (stock image)
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Dr Mogos continued: ‘Many women suffer from migraines, and it’s important to note that propranolol may be beneficial for these women… This is an important discovery for those dealing with migraines.’
About 28million adult women in the US – one in six – are thought to deal with regular migraines.
Propranolol is a beta blocker, a type of drug typically prescribed to treat high blood pressure and irregular heart rhythms.
It has also been shown to stop the effects of anxiety, such as shaky hands and a wobbly voice, which is why doctors also prescribe it for performance anxiety.
It works by relaxing blood vessels and slowing heart rate, which improves blood flow and lowers blood pressure.
This allows blood to flow to the brain more easily, preventing clots and strokes.
In the new study, which will be presented at the upcoming International Stroke Conference next week, researchers reviewed 3million electronic health records spanning 15 years from two large databases.
The study included men and women with migraine who were divided into two groups: those who had suffered a stroke after their first migraine and those who did not have a stroke.
The team then looked at if the patients were treated with propranolol for migraine.
The team found propranolol lowered the risk of ischemic stroke in women with migraine by 52 percent in one analysis and 39 percent in the other.
However, the medication made no difference for men.
There are multiple types of stroke, but the most common is ischemic stroke, which occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery in the brain, cutting off blood supply and depriving brain cells of oxygen, causing them to die.
The team said it’s possible no effect was seen in men because migraine has been more closely associated with stroke in women than men, though the exact mechanism for the difference is unclear.
Women are between two to four times more likely than men to have migraine. One 2023 study found 43 percent of women and 18 percent of men have had at least one.
The CDC report found stroke has increased in people ages 18-64 by around 15 percent when comparing stroke cases from 2011-2013 to stroke cases from 2020-2022
The researchers said propranolol’s low cost – around $10 to $20 for a month’s supply – could provide a more accessible solution for treating migraines and, in the long term, stroke.
Dr Mogos said: ‘Our findings indicate that women and health care professionals should discuss the advantages of preventive migraine interventions.
‘For under-resourced individuals who bear a greater burden from this condition and may lack access to new treatments, we must ensure these treatments are available to them. This approach can help reduce health disparities.’
The study findings could be significant given the number of people, especially young people, having strokes has surged in the last several years.
There has been about an eight percent increase overall in strokes, with a 15 percent increase in people 18 to 44 years old.
While propranolol may prevent strokes, additional research suggests other common medications like blood thinners, anti-psychotics, and opioids could increase the risk of stroke.
Anti-psychotic medications like clozapine and haloperidol, taken by 3.8million adults in the US, have been shown to cause weight gain, which in turn can raise blood pressure and lead to the narrowing of arteries, increasing stroke risk.
Additionally, blood thinners like warfarin – taken by 8million Americans – reduce the blood’s ability to clot. However, blood being too thin can lead to hemorrhages in the brain, another form of stroke.
