Office of Medical Communications

Tracy Madsen, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of emergency medicine and vice chair of research at the Larner College of Medicine and chair of the American Heart Association Clinical Cardiology/Stroke Women’s Health Science Committee

(FEBRUARY 3, 2025) Tracy Madsen, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor of emergency medicine and vice chair of research at the Larner College of Medicine, was quoted in a HealthDay story about new research indicating that a common drug used to prevent migraines might have the additional benefit of protecting women against stroke.

Women taking the beta blocker propranolol to ward off migraines have a lower risk of strokes caused by blood clots, according to new research presented at the International Stroke Conference on February 6 in Los Angeles. The risk of stroke was as much as 52 percent lower in female migraine sufferers taking propranolol, which is available as a generic drug, researchers said. (The drug did not have the same protective effect for men, however.)

“The study’s findings are not surprising since we have strong evidence that medications similar to propranolol used to treat blood pressure reduce stroke risk substantially,” stated Madsen, who also serves as chair of the American Heart Association Clinical Cardiology/Stroke Women’s Health Science Committee, in a news release. “The findings are potentially quite helpful, though, for women living with frequent migraine, as they suggest we have a good medication option that helps to prevent both migraines and strokes.”