Migraine prophylaxis: flunarizine

About flunarizine

Flunarizine is a type of drug known as a calcium channel blocker. Calcium channel blockers are medicines that are most often used to reduce blood pressure or treat certain heart conditions. Flunarizine is not licensed in the UK, and so its use for preventing migraine is 'unlicensed'.

To try and prevent migraine in adults, flunarizine 5 mg or 10 mg is usually taken once a day (at night). After flunarizine has been taken for a while, it may be recommended that people have 2 successive 'tablet-free' days each week, such as Saturday and Sunday. After 6 months of taking flunarizine a complete break from taking it is often recommended. It may be restarted if the migraines get worse again during this 6 month period.