Glaucoma eye drops and migraines

I am waiting for an appointment at eye hospital because spec savers say my pressure is too high. My eyes appeared healthy from the OTC scan and blood vessels ok. Sight not deteriorating. I suffer badly from migraines and wondered if anyone on the forum uses eye drops that don’t cause headaches or make migraines worse. I take steroid inhaler once a day and recently a nasal steroid for my chronic rhinitis. The optician said that the steroids could be contributing to the increase in pressure. I am highly sensitive to most medications but manage to take a very low preventative dose of propranolol as a migraine reducer which helps a little. I’m very anxious anxious that I’m going to have bad side effects from some of the eye drops and would like to be informed about the drops with the least side effects that hopefully won’t make my migraines worse but will be beneficial for my glaucoma.

[Positiveannie]

Hi I've been on latanaprost for two years now and I also have silent migraines, it has made any difference tbh

[Hidden in reply to Positiveannie]

Thanks for your reply 👍🏼

[Positiveannie in reply to Hidden]

Hi how are you getting on?

[pinks223]

hi felix125

Yeah steroids can be dangerous for glaucoma due to the increased risk of pressure in the eyes I used only a small dose of steroids and my glaucoma skyrocketed up .I try to avoid steroids at all cost.everyone is different . I’ve never had issues with eye drops causing migraines I’ve used xalacom brinzoquin I don’t use any at the moment due to having trabs done only use dry eye drops

[Hidden]

Thanks for your reply 👌🏽👌🏻

[Seanickone]

I had headaches from a beta blocker drops - could have been the preservative- a close friend had the same issue she’s on preservative free drops.

[Hidden]

Thanks 👍🏼

[Cavapoochonowner]

Hello there, like you I take propranonol as a migraine preventative.I have just been diagnosed with raised pressures and have been taking 1 drop latanoprost every night since january.I have noticed no increase in migraines.

[Hidden in reply to Cavapoochonowner]

Thanks 👍🏼

[countrygirl1]

Hi I used to have migraines with aura but not usually headache, these would happen a couple of times a year. In June last year I had an increase and was having them every couple of days. Since then I have been diagnosed with primary open angle glaucoma and I use Latanoprost eyedrops nightly. Since diagnosis and treatment started I have had no migraines at all. The eyedrops are reducing my pressures and causing no side effects.

Good luck with your treatment

[Hidden]

Thanks Country Girl . I hope when I get eye drops they’ll help.

[NewSh0e]

hi, there, my consultant suggested there is, in fact a connection between migraine and glaucoma, something to do with the restriction of blood vessels. I’ve had migraine all my life, and by the time a glaucoma diagnosis I had already significant damage to my left eye.

In my experience, there has been no impact on my migraines from taking eyedrops, however, I do now take great care to avoid steroids, as others have said, and check with my consultant which antihistamines I can and/or can’t take, as some can also contribute to elevated pressure.

Good luck with your new medication!

[Hidden]

Thanks NewSh0e. Do you take Tristan’s for your migraines and if so are they ok to take with glaucoma? 👍🏼👍🏽

[Beecalmed]

Hi! I would avoid steroids if at all possible as it is thought to potentially raise eye pressure, so is not good for glaucoma sufferers.

I have suffered with severe rhinitis in the past and eventually got advice from a specialist and now take Loretadine daily for half the year as a preventative treatment plus some lifestyle changes, which is fine as I have open angle glaucoma. Antihistimines are not advised for those with closed angle glaucoma. Have you had your allergies identified? It might be worth getting more help and advice, so you can avoid steroid sprays and treatments, particularly if you do have a glaucoma diagnosis.

[Hidden]

Thanks for replying Beecalmed, I’ve tried loretadine and it doesn’t work for me, nor do any other antihistamine tablets unfortunately. My allergies affect my nose only so it is constantly blocked. There is a steroid nasal spray apparently called flucticasone that is supposed to be safe to take with glaucoma. I need to see what treatment they are going to give me for my glaucoma first and then maybe try to introduce the flucticasone and then get pressure tested to see if it’s affecting my eye pressure. Yes I have over 30 things I know I’m allergic to. I also have have asthma so need to take my steroid preventative spray for that. Unfortunately I am highly sensitive to medications and my body seems to absorb things very quickly and I tend to get a lot of unwanted side effects from things, so I’m rather apprehensive about the eye drops. I understand from this very helpful forum that it can take a long while to get the right combination of drops that are tolerable yet effective.