Hi, my name is Sarah. I am a 27 yrs. old migriane sufferer. I have had them since I was about 13 yrs old. I have tried just about every preventative medication out there over the years. I have had my wisdom teeth cut out, wear a mouth guard to prevent teeth grinding, I have tried acupuncture twice now. I am at my witts end. I normally average about 12 migraines a month. I use imitrex and relpax. This month though I have had a migraine every day so far. I went to the dr yesterday and got a shot of torodol which worked somewhat. My doctor wants me to start inderal la 80mgs. My problem is that I was on 4 preventative drugs and due to a possible pregnancy I was told I needed to stop them all cold turkey...no tapering off. I have never in my life been so sick. I was on gabapentin, propranolol, verapamil, and celexa. I was so sick I didn't go to work for 2 weeks. I was lightheaded, extremely nauseated, no appetite, just generally felt horrible. Turns out I am not pregnant. Now my dr. wants me to start this inderal la and I am horrified about going through the same withdrawl effects If it doesn't work and I need to stop taking it. Has anyone had any similar experiences with inderal la. I seem to have problems comming off of these medications when it's time to stop them. I refuse to put myself through that agony again. I was sick for a whole month! I was just recently diagonosed my mayo clinic as having refractatory migraines, which are those that don't respond to treatment. Does anyone out there have these? Any tips, ideas, suggestions, experiences? Please help me!! Sarah
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scared about starting inderal la
9/12/07 11:23am
Hello, and welcome to MyMigraineConnection.com!
That must have been a horrible experience for you, Sarah. Anyone who stops all those medications cold turkey would fell awful and definately go into withdrawal. 
Stopping most medication, needs to be done on a slow tapered schedule with your doctors help. Maybe that is why you have had trouble coming off other medications. I do understand the need to come off medications in regard to your possible pregnancy- but since you aren't it is time to get a great preventive plan in the works.
Will you continue to work with the doctors at the Mayo clinic? Inderal is commonly used for Migraine prevention. The fear of withdrawal is really not a good reason not to try this medication. It may be the one that works for you - wouldn't that be great!
Are you taking Imitrex and Relpax more than 3 times during a one week period? If so, you could be running into a problem called Medication Overused Headache (MOH). No preventive on the planet will work while suffering MOH.
Namenda for chronic headache and Migraine attacks is something you may want to discuss with your doctors. I know some members here have had good luck with it, reducing their Migraine attacks and chronic headache quite a bit.
Thank you for creating a SharePost. SharePosts are a form of blogging, and there are many things you can do with them. You can share an experience, suggest something that's helped you, use SharePosts as a Migraine and headache journal, and many other things.
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Nancy Bonk
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9/13/07 5:24pm
Thanks for the feedback Nancy. Yes, I do intent to follow up with the doctors at Mayo. I have an appointment with a neurologist at their headache clinic on October 4th. It can't come soon enough!! I do beleive I probably have some medication overuse issues as well. I have been switching between imitrex and relpax to try to prevent it, but having migraines everyday for 12 days isn't good and I had to have something. I don't have much sick time left at work since that whole medication withdrawl thing I went through last month. I haven't heard of Namenda, but I have an appointment with a new neurologist tomorrow and will bring it up. Sarah
6/25/08 9:19am
Hey, my name is Lori and I have had chronic migraines since I was a child. I have Bipolar Disorder and Hypertension so I take quite a "cocktail" of meds. I currently have Midrin for migraines but it is not very effective. For the last 5 years, if they get really bad, I have gone to my MD and she has given me an injection of Nubain/Phenegran. That pretty well gets rid of the migraine but wipes me out. I have to sleep it off. So now I have a new MD due to insurance HMO change and she has sent to a Neurologist. I am due to have a MRI next week. I do not anticipate them finding any organic reason for the migraines. The doctor suggested Topomax, but I hesitate to add another med to my current list.
I am pretty frustrated right now, that's for sure. They affect my work day and I can't let that continue to happen. A friend at work is on Inderal and has had great success. I have looked up side effects for both Topomax and Inderal and worry they there are too many of them to justify use of either med.
Let me know your opinion, please.
9/13/07 1:09am
Hi there!
I was on Inderal LA 50mg and swapped to Toprol 100mg (doc upped dose b/c the betas worked for me), because it's easier on asthmatics.
Prior to that, I came down from Topamax, a steroid, and nortriptyline all at once, but I did so gradually...with all 3 meds, I did end up feeling pretty horrible, even stopping gradually.
If you are only starting the Inderal, I would imagine stopping it gradually (if you had to) would treat you better...But I thought propranolol WAS the generic for Inderal? I could be wrong...I'm sorry your doctor pulled you off of everything cold turkey...I know that no one wants to be on all of those pills or keep swapping them but sometimes it's what you must do in order to find something that works. I wish you the best of luck!
9/13/07 5:30pm
Propranolol is the generic for inderal la. But apparently the LA part (long acting) is something that works better than just regular propranolol. At least according to my neurologist. So you came off of the inderal la, topomax and nortriptyline all at once? That's what I'm afraid of. The lowest dose of inderal la is 60 mgs. Normal propranolol comes as low as 10 mg I beleive, but the mgs don't coinside between the la and the regular, so I'm unsure if I can taper below 60 mgs. I think that' to high of a dose for me to come off of smoothly.
9/13/07 7:23pm
Hey there,
Thanks for your reply. It's been a while since I was on Inderal. It probably was 60 mg, and I'm mixed up because I am on Toprol 100 mg! ;)
Honestly, I had vivid dreaming and crazy nightmares on the Topamax. I have not had any of those side effects with the betas. They might make me a little light-headed some days but my migraines do that too, so I am used to it.
Right now I do not take more than the Toprol as a preventative. I can't because I am participating in the PFO/migraine study, otherwise I would because I think my migraines are sometimes just resistant. I have 2 week breaks in there sometimes where I wasn't before. Just remember that all meds will treat you differently--but if they help you reduce your attacks then they are a benefit. You've been down this road before so it's like preaching to the choir, I know. :) But personally, I would rather deal with the come-down from the drugs after using them than not even try to find something that works again.
Best of luck!
9/13/07 1:20pm
Hi Sarah,
I am on Inderal la. No problems with it except for gettin sleepy. If you do go on Inderal make sure that your doc specifies NO generic!!! To me there is a difference. I am on 120mg. I still get plenty of migraines but I can tell the difference if I go down on the mg or go off. My neuro has tried both ways to see how it works for me.
Now remember Inderal la is just one drug that may help. It alone may not do the trick. You can always have brake threws and that is when the Imitrex would come in. Now, it is a possibility that you may need more than just the Inderal La to help you with the migraine. I am on several. Did you read Teri's "Migraine Home" post a few days ago? It list all the meds and OTC items that she is taking to help her with her illness. You may want to take a look at that.
There is also a drug that can be taken with Inderal that you can speak with your doctor about and that is Lryica. That helps me. There is wellbutrin. Gosh there are so many that can be added that can help.
You really need to speak with your doctor or have him/her refer you to a neurologist. I am not migraine free by any means at all. But they are not out of control and I don't havie to carry a bucket in the car now and I can usually carry on after a migraine. I may have a migraine hangover but I can deal with that most of the time.
Take care...
Marlene
9/13/07 5:34pm
Thanks for the feedback Marlene. Have you experienced any other side effects from the inderal la? I've heard that vivid dreams and nightmares can be a side effect. I was on regular propranolol before. Only 40 mgs. and had really bizare, vivid dreams. What differences did you find between the generic and the real thing? I did read Teri's page the other day and am on most of the same supplements she is on. I haven't heard of lryica, but will look into this. Thanks for the advise. Sarah
9/14/07 3:56pm
Sarah, I'm sorry for your suffering. I am 48 and have migraines since I was a kid too. At any rate I tried Inderal several years back and what I found was that after a year or two (and this is what happens according to the doctor I saw) the toxicity of the medication builds up in your system. So the first sign of toxicity was that my heart was beating strangely. Apparently Inderal is thought of as a preventative by how it slows the heart down slightly. So when my heart starting having eratic beats, that was the Inderal. The other side affect I had was even more interesting, and that was that I saw neon colored snakes in the corners of rooms. This was an interesting one for me, as I am a trained clarvoyant and see many things, generally in vibrant colors, or dark colors for blockages (with the 6th chakra or "spirit eyes"). Anyhoo, neon snakes were not a vibration I saw, and again when I told him this he said this was a side effect of toxicity. So there is my story with Inderal. I currently use Ergotamine, keep my sinuses in check with claritin, use a vitamin B-100 to help with the neck and shoulder pain, and use an occassional painkiller should the pain be too strong. I also use an alternative natural weed that takes care of all my nausea and calms me down. The ergot medicine I use takes a good hour to 2 hours to lessen the headache, so with my alteranative natural weed I don't have to suffer with nausea or pain. I also have meditated for 35 years and teach meditation, along with the clarvoyant training I and my husband have taken, I also rely on healings from him to clear energy. I also get massage at least once a month. I think it is fascinating the electrical stimulation devices and implants for migraines. Interrupting the "electrical storm" which is what a migraine is, is something I am trying to emulate through the spiritual healings I do. The way I was taught healing, is to give a healing is to receive a healing, so I work on migraine people as much as I can! Sarah, may you find your peace.
9/16/07 1:55am
9/16/07 11:35am
The electrical devices I read about are on this site under "Manage" (look to your left) and then click on "Treatment". New advances are quite interesting. I have a chiropractor who may have one, so I can try that out. Not sure if its the same as talked about on this site though. As to the other, there are dandelion weeds, and many other types of weeds. But its not the dandelion type.
2/ 2/08 12:51am
I have taken Inderal LA for about 8 years for migraine. I have had no problems on it at all, other than I do get an occasional migraine with aura no headache. It is a lifesaver for me. It also cuts anxiety. I get migraines when my heart beats fast when I am nervous etc. the great side effect of the Inderal is that it keeps my heart rate normal. I had to stop in once and the only side effect for me was that my heart beat fast which was normal for me before starting the Inderal. Don't be afraid of it, it works great!
3/23/11 12:06pm
hey I am a mom who just gave my 18 year old daughter her first dose of inderal. It's spring break and figured now would be a good time. She is a Varsity Soccer Player and has endured four concusions. I am kind of surprised to see that migranes are just one of the few reasons this drug is used. I am watching her like a hawk and with this drug she was also given voltraren by her neurologist. If you have any suggestions or comments on these two scripts I am open. Thanks...MOM
8/18/11 3:39pm
I have been on Inderal/Propanolol for 10 years now. It has been a lifesaver for me. I was a migraine sufferer, almost daily. Since taking the Inderal, only occasionally get a migraine which is probably 1-2 a month. (usually one always being a menstrual migraine) I take Maxalt 10mg for migraine when I get it.
I have vivid dreams, but that is ok, nothing bad. (family of dreamers any ways!) I notice occasionally palputations, but again, nothing-compared to days of severe migraines.
In the past two years (since being on generic b/c insurance coverage) I started losing my hair. I have recently been diagnosed with alopecia) which is a side effect on both meds. I swear it is can be the generic, and am currently fighting to be switched back. (Generic and name brand have the same active ingredient, however, the generic has 7 extra inactive ingredients-some synthetic) I know my body and believe this could be the reason I am almost bald.
I have been counseled that you can NOT stop Inderal/Propanolol without weaning yourself off. It can take up to two years I have heard-depending how long you have been on it. I just pray I have some hair left when I eventually get off the meds. I have looked into alternative ways for pain including vitamins, chiropractor, acupuncture and massage. I just pray it will get me through the pain. It is like I have to choose...be bald or be in so much pain-I want to die? It is sad. I know the life Inderal has given me in the past ten years is wonderful to the 10 years prior suffering and being the person I was then. It is a very hard choice.
BTW-I take 80mg.LA
I read and research new info often. Years ago I was desperate and only wanted relief and was willing to try anything. Knowing it has so many side effects, including alopecia, I don't know if I would have taken if I knew then what I know now. But again, it has given me a wonderful quality of life.
I wish you luck. I hope you try other things and stay away from as much as the meds as possible. I believe your body reacts to things differently than most people and only you can choose. Good luck and hope you have a beautiful day!!
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Hi Sarah...i have a posting on the site so look it up....I am 35 and for 12 years have had problems on and off with migraines with aura(visual disturbances)....
I did try a couple of medications and don't get me wrong, when i'm in an attack, i take immigran but in general, you need to drink more water than normal and check out what your eating...I'm not a nutritionist but if you can find one, try that avenue as sometimes too much medication just complicates stuff further and ultimately damages your immune system