Would love some advice

Quick background:

Started migraines in 2010 - imitrex would take them away. It was determined they were hormonal. In July 2011, they began daily. That lasted for 6 months until I saw neurologist, who started me on propranolol (inderal). I alternated between 80 mg and 120 mg. This reduced my migraines immediately. I had about 10/monthly down to eventually just around 5 - during my period.

During this time I also had a significant weight gain that I did not at first attribute to the propranolol. Fall of 2012, migraines started increasing so January 2013, I started on dosage of just 120 mg. This took away my migraines completely.
The weight gain got worse and it was impossible to lose, despite daily workouts and eating low calorie. I also started having trouble falling asleep and sleep issues that led to back and neck issues. I had multiple episodes with dizziness/light-headedness as well.

The neck/back issues got back enough this summer that I decreased to 80 mg of propranolol. I also added 150 mg of Petadolex (50 mg 3 x a day).
This helped a lot with the dizzy spells and a little with sleep issues. I still have trouble falling asleep and take benadryl every night for this.


During the last month I have started having neck pain that leads to headaches. This occurs daily. I assumed this was a result of sleep issues and have been taking ibuprofen and aleve for the pain (alternating). I do not like doing this so hoped to decrease the propranolol (and hopefully wean off it). My hope was the Petadolex would work enough on its own.

I saw my neurologist's PA. She did not want me to wean off the propranolol and said if I was going to, I needed to start something else. She gave me a prescription for neurontin. She also said that all of my headaches, no matter what is causing them, are migraines. She suggested I take imitrex rather than advil/aleve.

I decided to wean off the propranolol but not start the neurontin (side effects looked worse than propranolol). She had said to take it every other night for a few nights. I did not take it Friday night.

On Saturday I had the same neck pain resulting in headache as I've had the last couple of weeks. I should mention I also have my period. I decided to take an imitrex. It worked :( While happy to take away the pain, especially without pain relievers, I was very disappointed that it was in fact a migraine.


Now I am confused...have the headaches been migraines all along? Is the neck pain a migraine? Or causing migraines? Or was just this headache a migraine since I have my period?

My other issue - Saturday evening I had a big dizzy spell. I was very light-headed and nauseous. I felt this pressure around my eyes. This lasted all Saturday evening. It was worse while riding in the car. I woke up Sunday morning and seemed better but had a short spell that afternoon so I had to lie down. Today (Monday) I had a short spell again.

I did some internet research and found this can be a migraine symptom and can occur even without a headache (which I have not had one since I took the imitrex on Saturday morning).


I know this is a lot of information but would love any advice or thoughts anyone has.

I would really like to go off the propranolol but now with all this new information, I do not know if it's possible. Has anyone had any luck on Petadolex? Any other natural supplements?

Thanks!! :)

I have chronic migraines that mimic strokes, so my neurologist has me on four different meds plus an injection that I can take twice in 24 hours.

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Amitriptyline 25mg 1/2 pill (night)
Divalproex 500 (night)
Neurontin 300 mg (3x daily)
Topamax 100 mg (1 - morning/2-night)
Sumatriptan injection 6mg

Has anyone experienced elevated blood pressure when having a migraine?