Beta-Blockers anyone?

Hi,

I just want to run this by you, and ask if anyone has had results from the old fashioned Beta-Blockers, Propranolol and Migraines.

Not sure if I will go down this avenue but may if I can get no relief.

The thing is the Dr I saw at the hospital last week wants to treat my blood pressure which is a bit high 200/110 (White cote syndrome) in hospital yet 130/90 resting pulse 90 at home, so only mildly high.

It would make sense to me to use a Beta-Blocker, as this should reduce my BP, pulse rate a bit but far more importantly to me they may well reduce the frequency of my Migraines.

I was on Half Inderel which is a Beta-Blocker many years ago for BP and anxiety, and found as an added bonus my migraine although not nearly as bad as these days was far less frequent when I was on them. The only side effect I recall was vivid dreams, and sweating more, but I could live with that.

I see a new doctor in just over a week so may suggest we try them, I was interested if others had good results with Beta-Blocker, or are they too old class med these days? Thank you,

Peter

I tried 3 different BB and all I got was freezing cold and eventually white fingers.
So not for me.

But we are all different. Talk to the doctor Peter.

P

Twice in my life, I tried propanalol and both times they worked. Unfortunately it stopped working after 6 months. It was very nice 6 months stints though. I remember being very sleepy though.

peter, I did not have any relief of daily headache/ 4-5 M a week when I tried beta. or calcium channel blockers either.

I have dropped my blood pressure from 140/90 to 115/75 pulse 65 by taking clonodine .1mg 3 x day. I have taken this 6 months and it stopped daily HA and also all migraines. I had suffered about 6 years and thought I had tried everything. Hope you find something soon.

Yes, yes, yes.

I take a beta-blocker called Atenolol, have done for years. It has quite literally given me my life back.

I wouldn't be without them. Occasionally I have to take a months break from them because my body gets "used" to them but other than that, all good for me.

I've you go down this avenue, please let us know how you get on. I personally think it's worth a shot.

I was on it for about a year (for migs) and got tired of feeling like I was being poisoned. Weight gain and lack of energy made it tough to stay on it. Then when I did stop it my BP went up, it was fine before. So now I am trying to lower it with alternative means since I absolutely do not want to be on any BP meds.

It's very suspicious to me that I had a very normal and even a bit on the low side BP and to have it sky rocket after going off of it. The same syndrome has been found with the statin drugs on some people. Once you start taking it you're stuck taking it. Of course I am sure that they were never designed for that to happen.

Brent, I hadnt thought of that, but my BP has always been low....110/60.
But it is now quite a bit higher and it did go up after my last lot of BB.
I assumed it was just age or whatever, interesting thought.

Brent said:

It's very suspicious to me that I had a very normal and even a bit on the low side BP and to have it sky rocket after going off of it. The same syndrome has been found with the statin drugs on some people. Once you start taking it you're stuck taking it. Of course I am sure that they were never designed for that to happen.

Interesting about the statin drugs. I have never heard of that. I started taking statins after by-pass surgery in 1992. After that, my BP, which was about 120/60plus prior to the surgery, went up almost immediately, to about 150/60. I did ask my MD, he said the rise in BP was due to the vein that they took from my right leg; it was not the same as my OE vein.

Now, I have white coat syndrome only with my systolic BP, and my BP is 130/55 with meds. Atenolol is one of my meds, it has done nothing for my headaches.


Martin

Peter, I was on a combo of Inderal and Welbutrin which was helping reduce the intensity and a small reduction in frequency as well. I recently tried going off Welbutrin and they are creeping back a bit. Inderal has always helped me somewhat. I did gain a few pounds on it, but it is worth it for me.
Cindy

Martin, with the statin drugs your cholesterol can go up higher after you go off them. And many will be going off them now that they have found out all the dangerous complications from taking them.

Inderol never worked for me but turns out it was extreme sinus pressure triggering TN causing the pain. And that was why all of the preventives never worked.

I am very curious how long the refractory BP increase will last.

i am taking propranolol, have been for 8 months now and it has taken the sting out of the migraines, still have several days a week where i have a migraine but it has knocked them down from a 6-8 to around a 2-4, i havent taken a triptan for months now, i rely on diclofenic 50mg and soluble paracetomal 500mg along with an anti emetic, still have some shitty days, where the nausea is overwhelming and the pain stops me from doing things but i dont have the ripping pain that just keeps building up and up until it knocks you into bed for a day,

downs sides are weight gain a real prob for me, tiredness, i have had to alter my work shifts around , and the feeling of not being alert, but i will take this any day over daily migraines that stopped me living and caused me to have soooo much time off work this time last year i very nearly lost my job, not to mention the strain it was putting on my marriage, my mother spent 2 years on them when her migraines were at their worst and came off them with no BP probs,

if you can tolerate them i would def give them a go but thats just my opinion,

It's amazing to read what we would tolerate in exchange for reduced migs. I wonder if our docs ever take notice of our "dance with the devil" we do. And do they realize how bad this must be to make those profound concessions for a little relief?

I've askd for BB, but I'm not a good candidate according to doctors.
My BP is normally 100/70. In "good days" it's 110/80. Not enough to bear BB.
I have a friend who was given bb, he tried them for 2 months at low dosage. Migraines improved but he quit because he felt without energy and always tired.

yeah it is amazing what we tolerate just to get some relief, for me it was that point when migraines turned from several a month,where triptans took care of them, to several a week where triptans were useless,and i literally didnt get off sofa for 3 weeks other than to pee and go to bed, so any improvement on that is welcome, but i think we all know our tipping point where it becomes too much to bear.