Nasally Delivered 0.5% Timolol Beta Blocker Successfully Treats Acute Migraines in a Referral Headache Clinic: A Case Series.

Abstract

This is the first reported case series of nasally delivered beta blocker (timolol 0.5%) for the treatment of acute migraine. In a retrospective chart review, 16 patients were found who had received intranasal timolol for sub-optimally treated acute migraines. Of these, 10 (62.5%) reported to their provider that the medication was helpful. Encouragingly, the treatment was beneficial even for patients previously refractory to other medications. Intranasal timolol was well tolerated, with only one patient reporting mild nasal congestion and no other side effects reported. These findings suggest the need for a prospective pilot study followed by a larger double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial to determine the overall efficacy and safety of nasally delivered beta blockers for acute migraine treatment.