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Propranolol and migraine

Posted , 40 users are following.

G111
G111

Just to say how well this drug has worked for me, I have been on it for about 6 months now. I spent years resisting taking a preventative migraine drug, maintaining that I only needed to take my Sumatriptan when I had a migraine. But the frequency of the migraines increased, even though I had given up work. Finally I went to the doctor who prescribed propranolol, 1x40mg tablet twice a day. Even though the Dr said it would take time to build up in my system and start working; I noticed an effect from the morning after the first pill. Previously I nearly always woke up feeling stuffy, having to move around gently until the 'potential' headache disappeared, likewise during the day I would have to be careful of things that would trigger a migraine. Now I wake up feeling absolutely fine and am able to get on with life. The only side effect is that I do wake up more during the night, however I seem to need less sleep and have gained at least an hour of useful time each day. I do still get the odd migraine, but they are less severe than before and I recover faster. I also still avoid my triggers like lactose, alcohol and too many late nights.

3 likes, 98 replies

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  • elseybellesC1
    elseybellesC1

    Posted

    Hi just to say thats great for you being mostly mig free, my doc has just prescribed propranolol and I have taken it for a week and it's my menstrual week when i would usually be rollling around in agony complaining to everyone about 'MY HEAD' and so far nothing!!!!!!!!!!!! It is a total miracle. However like you i'm wakeful in the night and quite tired in the day but my main concern is the weight gain. I'm already 2 stone overweight after having a child 13 mnths ago and cannot risk putting on anymore. Have you found weight gain an issue? Hope you continue to be mig free(ish)!

    El

  • G111
    G111

    Posted

    Sounds good so far, as to the side effects, stick with it, it can sometimes take a few weeks for your body to adjust to new drugs. Since I wrote the last post I am sleeping better and am not tired in the day. I have also halved my morning dosage by cutting the pill in half and this seems to have the effect of reducing the slightly whoozie feeling I had - but I suggest you don't do this until you have been on the medication for a while and you should really ask your Dr about it. As to weight gain, it has never been a problem for me, I'm a naturally skinny person and I haven't noticed any real change, however all the extra time I've gained means I can exercise more and get back the level of fitness I used to have! Isn't it great when something works as you hope it will?

  • arabella2
    arabella2

    Posted

    I would just like to echo your thoughts about propanalol. I am exactly the same with migraines. I have had them since I was 13 years old and am now 40. Since taking the propanalol I have now been migraine free for 2 years! Which to me is a miracle. I would agree with the weight gain. I now find it very difficult to lose weight which I never did before. I was putting this down to my age! However I would not say I had much of a weight gain, maybe half a stone which I can't say is 100% down to the propanalol
  • vickih1977
    vickih1977

    Posted

    I started taking propranolol approx 3 yrs ago after suffering from migraines since the age of 14 (I am now 35). I found them really effective in reducing the attacks considerably and any that I did get where not as severe. When I first started taking them I found I was incredible tired but this wore off after about a month. I didn't suffer any weight gain or any other major side effects initially but after about 18mnths I started to experience palpitations and dizzy spells. I couldn't be sure that this was down to the drug but stopped taking it anyway. My migraines have come back full force since then unfortunately. I recently spent the day in my local a&e department and received intravenous medication for what I can only describe as the worst pain of my life (including child birth). So I have been back to my Gp today and started back on Propanolol. I did consider alternative drugs but felt it was a case of "better the devil you know than the devil you don't". I'm going to give it another try and if the dizzy spells come back I'll know what's causing them and will have to try something else. It's definitely a brilliant drug for migraines and the modified release is better than the fast acting tablets as they make you less sleepy.
  • Kermodesmum
    Kermodesmum

    Posted

    Hi

    I have just started taking propranolol after suffering horrific headaches since the age of 13. My attacks were unpredictable and left me bed bound for days. This is a miracle drug as far as I am concerned. Yes, I do seem to have put about ½ stone on in weight and my sleep pattern has altered dramatically…..but this all pales into insignificance when I think about the last 2 ½ months of being pain free!

    Why did my old GP not tell me about this?

    My concern and question is this:-

    I have read a great deal about this drug, being used mainly for anxiety attacks etc. There is a strong message that patients must NOT simply stop taking them. As a Migraine sufferer will I be on this drug for the rest of my life, if so will I need to continue taking 40mg X day?

  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    Just so happens I suffer migraines as well as anxiety. I found these lying around, for some reason I had stopped taking them (probably when I had pancreatitis and thought they were triggering an allergic reaction.) I's started to take them again to see how well they work, and if they do the job I'll ask my doc for more.
  • ninger
    ninger

    Posted

    I have been on propranolol for anxiety and migraine for quite a few years now....at the 80mg dose i felt itchy and faintish so i reduced them to 75mg which is 3/4 of a pill in the morning and 1 whole one at night. i have palpitations anyway due to anxiety state, so i cant tell if its the propran. but apparently they slow your heart beat and pulse so this creates "funky" feelings ito me. That is why i find im better off on 75mg a day. But i do find that if i go out into the really cold weather i feel faint when i get in the warm for a little while, or vice versa. they keep me off tranqs and do help a lot with migraines which all my life id had every couple of weeks and would last a week at a time. i can actually eat my triggers now such as cheese, bacon, chocolate, as long as i dont eat massive amounts. so for me id say yes they help a lot.
  • kmpro1133
    kmpro1133

    Posted

    Hi everyone. I was just searching propranolol and migraines and found this discussion. I've had migraines since I was 7 (almost 27 years now) but my symptoms have become more severe and frequent in the past 6 months or so. I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow and was thinking about asking her if propranolol would be the way to go since I know someone else who uses that med. From this discussion, it sounds like it's working well for people? I'm a scientist and having my focus and not missing work are so important and it makes it difficult when I think a migraine is always around the corner. Any advice or information anyone could offer would be greatly appreciated! Best of luck, everyone!
  • Kermodesmum
    Kermodesmum

    Posted

    HI

    I have been on Propranolol for the last 6 months now 40mg X 2 daily. Apart from restless night’s sleep occasionally I can’t say I have noticed any other side effects. I have gone from severe cluster headaches to the occasional migraine! Success! Having had migraine since I was 13 (now 51) this is a breakthrough and was only offered this drug treatment after getting a new GP!

    My question is…..will I be on this treatment for the rest of my life?

  • maria02551
    maria02551

    Posted

    Hi,

    I agree completely. I was put on propranolol 80mg slow release a few years ago, the brought my chronic migraine back to a manageable level. I came off them a year ago to start a family, which was unsuccessful however the 12 months were hell, my migraines were every 12 days of 4 day duration, violent sickness and screaming. Then the days in between were headaches and background migraines, I gave up my job to live off savings and the pain just got worse. Then they never stopped from dec 2013 the pain was 24 7 with a massive migraine every 12 days. I was starting a new job and terrified my life was never going to get better. My new doctor said he won't do any referrals to my neuro until I get back on treatment. I didn't want a daily tablet again but just bit the bullet and did it. Two days later that headache lifted!!!!!! It was amazing, I'm on week 2.5 and I'm doing so good. I e had headaches but nothing horrendous, and I'm working again and living again. That constant pain just evaporated, and my sumatriptan controls the bad migraines.

    I have to recommend buccastem antisick to all the fellow migrainers, especially us menstrual migraine ladies. Since I started to take buccal them at the start of an attack I can usually stop the vomitting, also this stops the stomach shutting down so trip tan gets absorbed, so the migraine never gets unbearable.....it was getting migraines where no one could help and I thought I was dying, but I never used to take antisick. Now every time I feel bad attack starting I put a buccastem under my lip, then 2 x 400mg ibuprofen on advice of Neurologist who suffered migraine herself....thus can stop an attack and keep it handle able to work, if it breaks through again then another antisick and sumatriptan should keep ypu going. Obviously it doesn't stop the attack but I haven't had a day in bed for a while!!

  • maria02551
    maria02551

    Posted

    Apologies my ipad is auto correcting all my words above lol so I sound a bit odd! Hopefully you get the jist! Other two tips are hypnotherapy, I've had 5 sessions and it's based around changing your thoughts subconsciously so your mind stops thinking about the headache....idea being it's constantly in pain just now, so, you naturally wake up in pain because that's what your brains been used to so it's habit....I found taking propranolol etc with this therapy all seemed to help. Also...last bit of advice....tiger balm. I buy hard and jars from boots and smother all over head and neck...it works.
  • YorkshireLass1
    YorkshireLass1

    Posted

    Hi, at last people who are the same as me. I have suffered headaches/migraines as long as I can remember, now 46, and the maternal line of my family are the same aswell. Mine are mainly cluster headaches, with the odd bad attack maybe once/twice a month. Eventually I succumbed in Sept 2013 and my GP put me on 80mg propranolol once a day, but it made me so tired and washed out he reduced it to 40mg. So far so good, attacks are about 25% what they were, not so tired, but only down side is slight, but constant weight gain, which I'm not happy about, just have to control the diet and increase the exercise.

    Not sure if I need these tablets forever, or maybe my body just needed a kick start and I will be able to come off them. Don't really want to stay on them, especially because of the weight issue, but you have to weight these things up.

  • ninger
    ninger

    Posted

    hi i take propranolol for Migraine and anxiety, and i found that if i jiggled the dose til it felt right for me, it stopped most migraines from occuring and i was able to eat chocolate, cheese etc again smile but if i overindulged id get a migraine. I also still get occasional migraines but although they are nasty they arent half as bad as they can be without the propranolol. i was getting them every 2 weeks for about 5 days at a time and this has also reduced greatly. i was given one 80mg slow release per day which made me feel faint and weak and sleepy. so doc gave me 40mg x 2 daily and i found this was better...but i still felt a bit funky so i decided to take 1 x 40mg at night and 3/4 of a tab in the morning and this has worked out fine for me. ..every one is different so require different amounts to help. I am staying on them as id say they have helped a lot. If you stop them it will probably return. They dont have long term effects, but act more like a painkiller, they work while you are still taking them. ..as for weight gain im not sure but am not bothered, id rather be weighty than suffer evil migraines!
  • beverleys86
    beverleys86

    Posted

    Hi, I've suffered from migraines for years to the point I would often have to leave work and go home to bed. After trying Imigran I found that this really helped however the past 12 months I was having to take more of the tablets to get rid of the migraine. After visiting the doctor he prescribed Propanalol, I take one tablet per day usually of a morning with breakfast and I have seen a massive reduction in the amount of migraines to the point where I hardly get them. When I do get one I take two aspirin, two paracetamol and a buccastem anti sickness tablet and they go within an hour. I also found taking the tablets with a can of full fat coke rather then water sped up my recovery time. After researching on the internet a lot of people also said taking the tablets with coke was really affective as when a migraine kicks in your stomach closes in a way to concentrate on fighting the migraine which often causes the nausea but the sugars in the coke open your stomach again. For anyone thinking about taking Propanalol I think it's definitely worth a try. Also trying to avoid triggers such as alcohol, chocolate, cheese and bacon has helped.
  • Maddy
    Maddy

    Posted

    I'm a 74 year old lady and new to the world of migraine as I've never had one before. But have had 34 incidents of Ocular Migraine since Sept 2013. Not all with following headaches. I'm keeping a migraine diary but cannot spot any particular triggers. Nothing nasty showed up on the CT Scan so my doctor put me on Propanolol . 40mg to start then 80mg but as they haven't stopped he's now increased them to 160mg. I was very worried about this but now I've read all your positive comments I'll accept them more readily. BUT has anyone heard of this situation before ? ie so many ocular migraines in a short time - out of the blue. I'm wondering wether I should ask to see a specialist of some sort. Has anyone done that?
    • Guest
      Guest Maddy

      Posted

      Hi Maddy, 

      I'm a bit younger than yourself but suddenly started getting Vestibular MIgraines which lasted days at a time (August 2014 I had 8 V.M clear days) aged 51 after not suffering from so much as a 'normal' headache my entire life.  Eventually my GP refered me to Neurology and I asked the question "why now" his answer was "I don't know, it's just one of those things"  I was told it may be a condition I have for the rest of my life but it may disappear as quickly as it appeared.  Not very helpful I know but I don't think they have an answer. 

      I see your post was written 9 months ago.  I do hope things are getting better for you and the Propranolol is helping.

      Regards Sally

    • Maddy
      Maddy Guest

      Posted

      Thank You for your reply Sellafina, After trying the propranolol for four months I finally had to come off them as, although I was 28 days free of incidents I had some awful side effects and the 'migraines' had returned.  I have since clocked up 89 of these things, and FINALLY had an appointment at Neurology, who said it is definitely ' ophthalmic migraine' but they don't know why so many or what causes them.  So I'm waiting for another appt which will be another 3 months, to find out what solution they will come up with.  At least I don't get the headaches, just the auras. 
    • Guest
      Guest Maddy

      Posted

      That  sounds awful Maddy.  Such a long time to wait for another appointment. I'm in the West Country and it's the same here.  

      I have the aura without the pain which is a good thing considering how often I have an episode.  My GP prescribed 20mg Amitripyline a day which I was on for the 12 weeks I waited for my appointment with Neurology.  They helped somewhat but I was still getting more bad days than good.  Neuro prescribed Propranolol 20mg twice a day, I'm on day 13 and so far feel as bad as ever but was told they could take anything from 1-3 months to fully kick in, so fingers crossed.  

      I hope you get some success when you're seen again, it's a nasty dibilitating condition isn't it?

    • angela68805
      angela68805 Guest

      Posted

      Hi Sally,

      I realise this is an old thread and you may have moved on but I have only just found it. What you have described in your post could be me! I too am 51, have been suffering vestibular migraines for a year, diagnosed after numerous tests at the hospital. The hospital doctor told me that she thinks it's been triggered by fluctuating hormones i.e menopause.  Having kept a diary for a year my condition does appear to be cyclical. My GP has told me that I am the first patient he has had with this diagnosis!  I have been taking Propranolol for about 10 days now and it seems to be working although I feel that some days that a migraine is about to strike. I would be interested to know if this drug is still working for you?

      Regards Angela 

    • Guest
      Guest angela68805

      Posted

      Hi Angela,

      Firstly it's interesting your Dr suggested it could be hormone related. When I suggested this to the Neurologist he said absolutely no way was it Menopause related even though everything pointed to it as far as I was concerned!

      I didn't carry on with the Propranolol. It left me feeling out of breath and I was having to stop half way up the stairs for a breather, whereas I would normally run up them.

      I went back on the Amitriptyline 20mg a night.

      I kept a diary of episodes and then stopped taking the Ami six months ago, I still kept a diary and noticed the episodes neither improved or got worse.

      I'm now medication free. I absolutely believe it's Meno related looking at my diary. Hopefully that means once we're over the Menopause we'll be free of vestibular migraine forever more.

      Regards

      Sally

    • angela68805
      angela68805 Guest

      Posted

      Hi Sally, 

      I believe it is menopause related, I made adjustments to my diet in the weeks before Christmas by eating foods high in natural oestrogen and the frequency, duration and verocity of attacks dramatacally decreased. A big hiccup over the Christmas period prompted the prescription for propranolol for a months trial. I don't think I will be carrying on with it. As you say, hopefully this truly awful condition will disappear in time. 

      Regards

      Angela

    • rae77426
      rae77426 angela68805

      Posted

      Hi Angela....and Sally......if you're both still there on the forum!

      I can see these are old posts but thought I'd reply as I've found myself in the same boat. I too very suddenly developed what has been described as Vestibular Migraine, at 51, having never had any real headaches before. I've had it for 5months and at times it has been completely debilitating. I've started Propanolol 20mgs with some effect and they have just increased it to 40mgs, which I'm not that happy about but will try it. Like you I am fairly convinced it has been triggered by the menopause. I have also seen a chiropractor, which I was slightly sceptical about(but desperate!) and she was brilliant....made some rather alarming noises manipulating my cervical spine back into alignment which def made a difference....so maybe two things going on.....might be worth a try for either of you ladies. Hope you are both feeling better since your last posts.

      kind regards

      Rae

    • Guest
      Guest rae77426

      Posted

      Hi Rae,

      At my most desperate I tried Reiki, relaxing but didn't help V.M. Accuputure, again relaxing but didn't help and an osteopath, my back and neck clicked somewhat but the V.M stayed the same, neck felt great though, all loose and wobbly.

      Mine started age 51 at the same time as my periods started becoming irregular so I'm of the opinion it's Menopause related.

      I hope an increase in meds works for you, if not diet is the way forward and plenty of water.

      Regards

      Sally

    • rae77426
      rae77426 Guest

      Posted

      Hi Sally,

      Thanks for such a prompt reply. I will def try the foods and an increase in my hydration....measuring jug out already....sometimes the simple measures are the best.

      Hope you are soon on the mend.

      Kind regards

      Rae

    • angela68805
      angela68805 rae77426

      Posted

      Hi Rae, 

      I stopped taking propanolol after two weeks as it made me very breathless. I no longer take any medication. Since my last post the Migraine symptoms have decreased to nothing.... until today! By sheer coincidence I have had a slight relapse, but I believe I've brought this on myself by not listening to my body and physically  pushing myself over the last week, a known trigger for me. I make sure I eat foods high in natural oestrogen everyday (not as onerous as it sounds) I also take a supplement.  It's interesting that a visit to the chiropractor has helped, I wouldnt have thought of that myself. It is definately something to bear in mind should the VM's flair up again.  Good luck, I hope you feel better soon

    • Haithum
      Haithum angela68805

      Posted

      Hello everyone,

      Firstly, I'm glad I'm not the only one!

      I'm 41, male, and my migraines started out of nowhere around 2 months ago.

      I'm a shift worker and get only around 3 hrs of broken sleep after my night shifts. Plus I've had 3 high speed car crashes and been knocked down by a car in the distant past.

      I'm on Propranolol 40mg twice a day now and I don't seem to have had any side effects other than restless sleep that isn't helped by a 5 year old who insists on walking 3 or more times a night. Other than a migraine when I first started taking it I've been migraine free until last night and today.

      I know the obvious cause for me would be head injuries but bright sunlight and very bright head lights shining directly into my eyes seem to be a trigger.

      Essentially what I'm asking is did the Propanolol stop working for anybody else or is it just normal for the migraines to get through sometimes?

      Thanks,

      Haithum

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