Atenolol is another β-blocker you might ask your doctor about. I was on it for several years and experienced no side effects whatsoever.

Doc

I tried atenolol and it did nothing for me. My migraines continued as if I wasn't on any medication at all. It just goes to show how different we all react to different meds.

Not that different. Not only did I have no side efects, I had no other effects either, same as you. Finally (long story) I just stopped taking it. I still have migraines, but not as often as I did back then (no connection).

Doc

I was just prescribed a β-blocker today for migraine prevention (suffering since age 6, now 35 years of age). I've tried so many medications, and had many side effects (Elavil was dreadful, Neurontin was equally bad to me... Tegretol and another antidepressant were downright scary with side effects, can't recall which a/d it was).

Long story short, I just took my first dose of the β-blocker (Propranolol), so crossing my fingers this won't carry the side effects of the other medications I've tried. So far I just feel 'flush' or my heart feeling like it's beating a bit fast/occasional shortness of breath. Just need to remember not to stand up too quickly, I already have low blood pressure, and this lowers it even more.

*Edit: the flush/heartbeat/breath thing was short-lived, only a second or 2 at most. So far so good!

Sorry you had a bad experience with amitriptyline (Elavil). I'm thinking about asking for it again to help with sleeping w/ chronic pain. It's a low dose for that - 25 mg IIRC. Do you recall the dosage for migraine prophylaxis and the S/E you experienced?

From some reading I've been doing lately, I'm wondering if those years on atenolol may have been a contributing factor in my PN. :Hum:

Might be prudent to read up on the propranolol! :Clever:

Doc

FWIW, I'm using propanolol. I started with 20mg twice daily and I was too drowsy but I'm on a lot of meds that cause drowsiness so it doesn't take much to make it worse. I was still getting migraines, but not too often. I did have to reduce my dose to 10mg twice daily and I feel as though I'm on the verge of getting a MH a lot of the time and I'm still getting them, but the drowsiness for me is a little more manageable. Its a fine line between the right dose and too much, for me, but the drug is helping control the MH's so I'm staying on it. I'm new to MH so my experience is limited here. I do hope it helps you.

Take care, ee

Ironically, I took only 2 doses 20mg each of Propranolol. I did not sleep at ALL the first night. Every 10-15 minutes I was out of sleep. It was unreal.

Why did I stop though? With my MS, I spoke to my neurologist who ordered me into the hospital. After a 7 hour wait at the ER, I was put on an IV with migraine meds (he wanted to rule out possible MS relapse versus migraine) and then suggested stopping the propranolol and instead trying Topiramate.

I'd taken Topiramate a long time back, but don't recall side effects of the medication, so I'm hoping this will help. Though now I'm even questioning if I truly am suffering migraine or cluster/tension headaches (or the MS). I had all that IV medication last night, yet I have the same symptoms today (less pain however, and taking a Tylenol with codeine resolved the headache, though the banding feeling over my nose and pressure in sinus is back).

As for Amitriptyline and the side effects I had.....

- dry mouth
- receeding gums (probably due to the dry mouth)
- spots on the skin (across my breast bone)
- nightmares
- bed wetting
- forgetting to eat
- extremely low blood pressure (almost fainted dozens of times)
- blurred vision (though this was questionably my MS too)
- sexual function changes

(referenced Wikipedia for some. Others I remember from having, but I stopped taking it 3-4 years ago so it's difficult to remember, I've been through a few medications!)

Prevention guidelines updated in April 2012
 

Do a quick good search for the recently updated American Academy of Neurology guidleines for prevention. There are many prescription medications as well as supplements that can have equally beneficial effects. Sometimes a combination of supplements- particularly invluding magnesium, robiflavin and feverfew- can be very safe and useful. Prescription meds can be added but there are many approved so dont feel copnstrained to just a couple options. Print out and discuss the new guidelines with your doc to find effective options.
Best wishes: Migraine-Away

Migraine prophylactics
 

My MD is putting me on Keppra (levetiracetam). The Keppra is supposed to be similar to lyrica and lamictal. Lyrica was helping with my migraines. It was immediate noticeable difference. But it made me too tired to function at work. Lamictal caused daily headaches and horrible fatigue while I was on it. If Keppra doesn't work, we may try atenolol or elavil next.

I just need some relief. I've been so sick the past couple weeks I can't take it anymore. The extreme heat this summer has devasted me in terms of the migraines. I'm scared I won't make it through to many more trials and may not be able to continue working. I am extremely worn down from all the ongoing health issues of the past couple years. I have no family near by, no real support system. Yes I have friends but no one is in a position to really help when I need it. They are so wrapped up in their own lives and trying to hang on to their own jobs that they do not offer or cannot offer help when it's needed. I'm really on my own. I broke down and started crying in the doctor's office a few days ago. He asked, "don't you have family that can help out?" I know I'm not the only person in a predicament like this. I don't know what other people do to get by when their health gets this bad and there is no support. There just anywhere for people like me to turn to.

I go to my new pain management doctor tomorrow. We will be discussing the option of radiofrequency ablasion for my neck pain.

I can suggest a couple of things. I can't make any promises, but it can't hurt to try...

Check with your doctors and/or local hospitals for support groups for migraines or the other health issues you have. Support is there, and friends are made quickly, but use common sense/caution and take it slow.

Many communities have 211 (like dialing 911) for information & referral of services. They may also have information on local support groups or other services available.

http://www.211.org/

Try google for support groups local to yourself, or information on how to start one. Lack of an existing group doesn't indicate that there isn't need or desire.

Doc