Medicinsk godkendt artikel
Candesartan is used as a preventive medicine for migraines
Candesartan has been developed to treat high blood pressure, but can also have an effect on migraines. When you get the medicine, it's not to lower your blood pressure, but to treat your migraines.
Candesartan may act as a preventative against migraine by stabilising blood vessels, but the exact mechanism of action is not known.
The effect of candesartan usually sets in after 1-3 weeks. Candesartan halves the number of migraine attacks on average. However, there is a big difference from person to person on how well the preparation works.
Candesartan is generally well tolerated. The preparation rarely lowers a normal blood pressure. In patients with low blood pressure, dizziness is observed when getting up. In rare cases, a rash, elevated potassium in the blood, as well as kidney and liver damage may occur.
Before starting treatment, heart rate and blood pressure measurements and the following blood tests should be performed: renal/fluid count and liver count.
Usually you start by taking 8 mg once a day for a week. After this, 16 mg once a day. If there is no effect after 1-2 months, the dose may be increased to 24 mg once a day for a week, then 32 mg once a day. If there is no effect after 2 months, it is reduced by 8 mg per week until you are completely off the medication.
In case of good efficacy, treatment is continued for ½-1 years, after which the dose can often be slowly reduced in consultation with the doctor. However, some patients need to use candesartan for a longer period of time.
