Bisoprolol 2.5 for high BP & to prevent migraine

[Catlover36]

Hi, I'm new here but would appreciate any comments especially if you use B to prevent migraines? I've been put on bisoprolol 2.5 to lower my BP but also to prevent migraines. Previously I was on propranolol 80 (beta blocker) for years and it had been preventing my migraines successfully, but recently it has been causing me to have really low HR (low 40's) & associated symptoms so my GP has changed me to Bisoprolol 2.5 (I'm also on Losartan 100). I've been on the B's for 6 days & yesterday got really dizzy & feel spaced out most of the time, my HR is still very low 41- 48 average, & I think I need to go back to the Dr to change meds but would appreciate views of anyone especially if you've been put on it to control migraine? (I had a 24 hr holter which didn't show anything spectacular although my lowest HR was 38.)

[Calliope153]

Hi Woody.

The only good thing to come out of my heart attack is I was put on Bisoporol (along with all the other standard meds) and for the first time in over 40 years I have been migraine free (I was bucket, darkened room, visual disturbances, slurred speech, little man with Kango hammer in head doing demolition work type migraine). The only problem I have is there are other side effects with Bisoporol - cold extremities being one of them. I started on 2.5 but now on 1.25 and coping much better. Don;t know if these observations help you at all.....

[SpiritoftheFloyd in reply to Calliope153]

I've been wondering about this. In the 9 months since my heart attack I haven't had a single headache. I used to get quite bad migraine 20 years ago but they gradually subsided to a standard headache, but this year - not a single one. Was on Bisoporol until 2 months ago now changed to Carvedilol as freezing cold

[Catlover36 in reply to SpiritoftheFloyd]

thanks for that, guess you've not had headaches since the change of med either?

[SpiritoftheFloyd in reply to Catlover36]

Yes still no headaches, despite changing the beta blocker.

[Catlover36 in reply to Calliope153]

Hi Calliope, really helpful observations thanks! Do you remember how long before they lowered your dose & were the side effects much less on 1.25?

[Calliope153 in reply to Catlover36]

Remember I wasn;t prescribed them for prevention of migraine - that was a lucky bonus - so I was on all sorts of pills being tweaked for about 8 months..... side effects are less for me on 1.25 but remember too, we are all different in our reactions ot drugs. My resting heart rate obstinately remains middle 70s and it wasn;t less on 2.5mg and it should have been.....

[road2ruin]

Hi Woody,

I too take Bisoprolol 2.5mg as prevention from migraines and it works wonders. It will lower you BP as well, mine is a steady 110 over 75-80. The heart rate can be quite low though, around 50ish. Other than that 4 years down the line I rarely get a migraine.

[Catlover36 in reply to road2ruin]

thanks Road2Ruin that's good to hear, do you remember getting many side effects & how long they lasted?

[road2ruin in reply to Catlover36]

Hi Mate,

The only side effect was the reduced heart rate. That comes and goes but never lasts too long.

[jimmyq]

I think it is the lowering of the BP that stops the migraines, i.e. the high BP was causing the migraines.

I once had a migraine at work, before I was on any meds, and I went blind for some minutes. I went to my doctor and she told me it was high BP and put me on meds. No more migraines.

[Catlover36]

thanks Jimmyq