Antihypertensive drugs reduce headache but it is unclear whether there are differences between drug classes .
Calcium channel blockers ( CCBs ) decrease variability in systolic blood pressure ( SBPV ) and stroke risk more than other classes , possibly due to decreased vascular tone .
If so , there might be a correlation between drug-class effects on variability in SBP and on headache .
Antihypertensive drugs reduce headache but the effect differs between classes , corresponding to their effects on SBPV and the risk of stroke .
This may partly be explained by consistent antihypertensive class effects on vascular tone in the peripheral ( variability ) and cerebrovascular circulations ( headache )
Comparison of the Effect of Perindopril and Acebutolol on Cerebral Hemodynamics in Hypertensive Patients
Abstract Purpose : The aim of the study was to compare effect of perindopril ( 4 mg once a day ) versus acebutolol ( 400 mg once a day ) on cerebral hemodynamics in hypertensive patients . Methods : Thirty untreated patients with mild-to-mode-rate hypertension were studied . Drug influences on Doppler-derived parameters from the cerebral blood flow ( CBF ) velocity wave form were evaluated in a r and omized , double blind , cross-over , placebo controlled study . The mean CBF velocity , pulsatility index ( PI ) , cerebrovascular resistance and index of CBF were calculated from concomitant transcranial Doppler measurements and systemic blood pressure . Results : Acebutolol and perindopril significantly decreased systolic , diastolic and mean blood pressure in relation to placebo . The mean value of CBF velocity increased to a comparable level after both drugs ( 54.9 ± 9.1 cm/s on placebo vs 62.8 ± 14.5 cm/s on perindopril p < 0.01 and 61.4 ± 9.2 cm/s on acebutolol , p < 0.01 ) . Also , the cerebrovascular resistance index decreased similarly after both drugs ( 2.26 ± 0.35 on placebo vs 1.68 ± 0.42 on perindopril p < 0.01 and 1.7 ± 0.36 on acebutolol p < 0.01 ) . The calculated CBF index increased significantly after each drug ( 25.23 ± 7.99 on placebo vs 33.98 ± 11.23 p < 0.01 on perindopril and 30.90 ± 8.04 on acebutolol p < 0.01 ) . However , perindopril augmented the CBF index more effectively than acebutolol ( p < 0.05 ) . Conclusions : Among patients with mild-to-moderate hypertension  both acebutolol and perindopril beneficially decreased cerebrovascular resistance and increased the CBF index in comparison with placebo . The increase of CBF index was greater after perindopril than acebutolol , which suggests a more significant improvement in cerebral perfusion by perindopril . The non-invasive transcranial Doppler ultrasonography method of CBF velocity measurement may contribute to choosing optimal antihypertensive therapies and to monitor their effect
Antihypertensive drugs reduce headache but it is unclear whether there are differences between drug classes .
Calcium channel blockers ( CCBs ) decrease variability in systolic blood pressure ( SBPV ) and stroke risk more than other classes , possibly due to decreased vascular tone .
If so , there might be a correlation between drug-class effects on variability in SBP and on headache .
Antihypertensive drugs reduce headache but the effect differs between classes , corresponding to their effects on SBPV and the risk of stroke .
This may partly be explained by consistent antihypertensive class effects on vascular tone in the peripheral ( variability ) and cerebrovascular circulations ( headache )