Propananol will it work? by DanielleC

Danielle I am on P and T along with other meds for nerve damage pain in my head. Yes it does work for maintance pain.

Give it sometime and communicate with the doc. The level may have to be adjusted. I have to increase 3 times before my level was reached and I take it 3 times a day.

Everyone is different, it takes time to see what works for the individual.

Peace
Trina

I haven't been very active here and I apologize. I have been doing so much better with migraines over the past couple years, it has become nearly a non-issue for me. I know it's temporary and eventually the migraines will return, they always do. What has worked for me, pristiq antidepressant, ponstel NSAID, and birth control without estrogen. Are you taking estrogen? They gave me the worst migraines. Zomig helps me a bit but seems less effective lately. I have tried MaxAlt, frova and a handful of other tripthans without any success at all. I also tried dologic which did absolutely nothing for my migraines.

I hope you're aware that the moderators here are volunteers. We are active when time permits and inactive when our lives are chaotic, just like regular people. I have a full-time job and a very busy schedule. I do not think it is appropriate to call people ignorant because they are unable to be available to volunteer every single day. I am sorry I was unresponsive, it was not intended and you certainly were not ignored, just not seen.

Hi BnotAfraid,

I had ocular migraines, for several years, a few times a week. Though blessed with not getting a headache, the blind spot (scotoma) and colors (scintillation) horrified me each time I had one. Eventually one doctor tried Ergotrate, though an unusual use for this drug, it stopped the migraines, or at least greatly reduced their frequency.

Having done some research in the time before home computers, already being on a Beta Blocker, and having an Internist that listened, I asked if he'd supervise the discontinuation of Ergotrate and my Beta Blocker and replace it will Propranolol. Lo and behold, it was at least as or more successful than Ergotrate in preventing the migraine. I took Inderal LA at 120 mg twice per day, the doctor was always surprised my pulse managed to stay high enough that I had no problems.

It worked for me. Your dosage would be determined by Doctor according to your weight, conditions, other medications, and other factors.

I was eventually discovered to have a seizure disorder, my doctors, over the years, saying migraines and seizures can be closely related. After the diagnosis for the seizures, the symptoms of which I had for more than 15 years and never coincided with the migraine symptoms, I was medicated with Phenytoin, and I stopped having migraines and seizures. I've used Phenytoin for well over 20 years, and still do. This may be an option as well. After I stopped having migraines, the Propranolol dosage was reduced.

Post Edited (JungRulz) : 6/5/2014 1:30:13 PM (GMT-6)

You have my sympathy, I have seizures (though controlled now), had migraines, have a tic, and am suffering a horrible bout of premature heart beats since Easter. It can be frustrating. Don't have pain associated with these things but had plenty of scary times.

I can't say if the Propranol will work, but I do know that by being as stressed as you and I are, you from migraines and me from a heart rhythm issue, we are both causing chemicals to be released by our bodies, known as catecholamines, that can cause the migraines and heart rhythm issues. Propranolol (Beta Blockers) is supposed to block some of the chemicals released by stress, but not all of them. By being stressful, we may actually he keeping the Beta Blockers from efficiently doing their job.

I'm sorry to hear of your frustration, but hold in there, the right combination of medications may yet succeed. It might help to lower the bar, instead of wishing for none, wish for less frequent and less severe migraines. My goodness, I hate these premature beats, but they are self feeding, once I react they grow worse.

There is some medication out there that will give you either total relief or partial relief, just be patient. Anti-Depressants, other Anti-Seizure medications and things as exotic as Neurostimulation devices have been used to stop migraines.

Also, have you had an MRI of the head to be sure everything is OK?

www.migraines.org/

Try to find web sites, like the one I listed above, that specialize in migraine research. Write to them, tell them you have refractory migraines and you need to find someone that has more experience in treating them, ask for assistance or referrals to other centers or doctors in your area.

Most doctors are good people honestly interested in helping others, but sometimes things may arise, such as your problems, that are beyond their experience, but there are others that can help.

Lastly, you may want to start a diary of symptoms, the time they occur, the severity, and you may want to start to look for triggers, and record them as well, such as other drugs, over-the-counter, prescription, or recreational, as well as alcohol, coffee, chocolate, cigarettes, and a myriad of other things. Keeping a diary may help you or your doctor connect the dots. Hormones may be an issue, be sure you have a complete blood work-up, including thyroid and other things doctors would know best.