Using Botox and Other Medicines Designed for Other Ailments in Treating Migraine 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) ANTIDEPRESSANTSTricyclic 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 MedsSelective Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor: Atomoxetine HCl, aka Strattera ARTHRITIS MEDSCox-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