Back on Propranolol

I haven't been on the forum much lately. I had a brutal January. I ended up in Emerg twice in 2 weeks with a couple of the worst migraines I have ever had.

Back when I was 16, I tried Propranolol and had some minor success with it for a time period of almost a year. My Dr. asked if I would be willing to give it another shot because they had been having some success treating patients my age with it. I agree to give it a few months.

Well my body sure can't handle it like when I was 16. I feel horrible. Tired, agitated, weak. It's only been just over a week so I am going to give it a fair chance. But I am not very happy right now.

So sorry you have been having a a bad time of it latley. I have good weeks and bad weeks. It never fails that once I get my meds for the month I have horrible headaches that I end up taking more than I should. I wish I could go through the month and finally not have to dread the last week with only a few left.

I was on Propranolol twice in my life. Once a long time ago when I was much younger. It did nothing for me. Then I tried it two years ago just to give preventatives another try and it was a big mistake. I gained eight pounds in two weeks! I have never lost it and have gained a ton more. I hate that drug. I feel it messed with my metabolism.

If it is making you feel horrible than it is not worth it. We are already feeling horrible with migraines, we do not need something else added to it.

I would stop it now. Sounds like you are doing what I was doing. Trying to give it a fair chance. Hopefully they can give you something else.

I cannot take any preventatives because they all give me unwanted side effects. Hope you find one that is good for you.

? if I may ask....

since betas are primarily a medication to treat cardiovascular and heart rhythm issues, how would you feel if you absolutely had to take them to stay alive?

Marc, I hope I did not offend you. I would take them if I had to take them to stay alive. I had a horrible new neurologist who basically gave up on my after two visits. That also played on my emotions with that drug.

Hope you are doing well and looking forward to the spring right around the corner.

Again sorry if I was out of line.

No, no Kimsmom, you didn't insult me in any way. Sometimes I don't word sentences as clearly as I would like. It's a pesky quirk that happened after my stroke. And in reciprocity, I hopefully did not insult you--surely not my intent.

I know we get a lot of medications that have tons and tons of side effects. I can't take triptans due to their cardiovascular risks. The other meds out there have tons of neurological side effects.

I'll try it again--maybe my brain will allow me to write something a bit better. I agree, betas are not the greatest meds to treat migraine. They can drop bp, increase blood sugar, make you gain weight, give you nightmares, slow down your heart, make you feel sad....generally make you miserable.

I wish I didn't have to be on a beta, but I'm in trouble if I don't. They can be tough meds. But sometimes we have no alternatives to turn to. It's like Topamax--surely a rough medication on memory and the kidneys, but can help some with migraines and seizure.

It's a choice sometimes, or at "gunpoint" most of the time of what we have to take to treat our conditions whether it's the brain or another problem. The tricky part comes to when trying to treat multiple health problems. The cardiologists treat the heart, and say heck with all the other conditions. The neurologists will say heck with some other part of the body to meet their needs.

It's like a migraine specialist/neurologist that told me I didn't need to take Klonopin for a couple problems caused by my stroke. He, because he is anti-benzos, discarded the other medical needs and wanted to push his medical treatment agenda. Two other docs, including a neuromusclar neurologist said the migraine guy can go take a long walk off a short pier.

Maybe what I'm trying to get to is as migraineurs, we might actually develop much worse problems than migraines. Yes, I'll get in trouble for saying that. What happens then? It's time to adapt and deal with the new medical crisis. I think having migraines makes you a tougher person.

Sorry guys.