Candesartan

[moongazer100]

I have suffered from migraine for many years but recently they are becoming more frequent, 2-3 times a week. Eletriptan does help if taken promptly. My GP wants me to try Candesartan as a preventative, I am reluctant to take a blood pressure medication as my BP is normal but wondered what other people’s experience was of this medication? Thanks in advance.

[Onthemove1971]

I suggest you seeing a migraine specialist. They only treat people with migraines.

I also recommend you taking magnesium 2-3x daily. There are many types and doses.

Start slow and increase dose as you can tolerate.

[moongazer100 in reply to Onthemove1971]

Thanks for your reply. I have been referred to a headache clinic previously however the GP seems reluctant to refer me again and says they can help instead. I already take a magnesium supplement 375mg once a day. What dose do you recommend & has it helped you?

[Onthemove1971 in reply to moongazer100]

I am not sure how long you have been taking it, but the max dose is 1600mg daily. This sounds like a lot, but 2 different Neurologist have verified this amount for me. You could double the dose and see if there is a difference. When it is working each migraine will get less painful, then you will get less in a week.

If you still don't see a difference, switch types and increase.

Studies show people with migraines are deficit in Magnisium.

I take Magnisium Glycinate 500mg 3x daily. I also take Fever few 2x daily 250mg each.

Also, do you know about the Heads up podcast? It is free and very good. They have guest speakers, search back and listen to all that apply to you.

[moongazer100 in reply to Onthemove1971]

Thanks so much for the useful advice. I will have a listen to the podcast.

[Onthemove1971 in reply to moongazer100]

I always want to add, when you first feel a small tinge of pain you should treat it. Make sure you eat 3 meals a day and drink lots of water.

Things that could help, peppermint, ice/heat and consider getting injections that you can give yourself so that if the pain goes away you can inject yourself. You should not go more than a short amount of time in pain.

[moongazer100 in reply to Onthemove1971]

Hi, what are the injections? I was not aware of these. Thanks

[Onthemove1971 in reply to moongazer100]

I use both pill form of Triptans (Imitrix) and injections. The injections are like an epi-pen. A small, thin needle that injects the medication into your muscle and helps dissolve the migraine within minutes. Being able to do this helps me so much and prevents me from having to go into the hospital. I never wait in pain, longer than 1 hour. There are a number of Triptans that you could try.

I live in the US and some other countries have different medications.

[Cb1963]

It's essential to getting the right diagnosis for headaches/ migraine there's numerous types, I had an absolute awful time with cluster headaches and it was only after speaking with a neurologist that I was given this diagnosis.Before I had seen him the doctor were prescribing propananol used for blood pressure, I was then passed over to the specialist who originally put me on topiramate, this worked for a while, but a few months later they came back with a vengeance, cluster headaches are known in the medical field as

" suicide " headaches and are the worst known pain for mankind, so I was then prescribed verapamil, and sumaptrapin injections, and what a difference a few weeks made, the tablets were introduced gradually over a few weeks and you require a ECG just to make sure your heart is beating a the right pace, the injections were useful in stopping the headaches becoming full blown, I never had such severe problems like these headaches, but I'm just using the injections, and instead of getting 4/5 headaches per night I'm now just using them 1/2 times a week and aren't so powerful anymore, I hope this helps you!!!

[PurpleTranmere]

Hi I have tried candesartan for chronic migraines. I have quite low blood pressure and it didn’t affect my blood pressure. I felt a little light headed and sick for a few days when I started it but then no side effects. It was the only preventative treatment that I’ve tried that helped at all but unfortunately it only worked for a few months. Definitely worth giving it a try as compared with a lot of preventatives the side effects are few.

[Lactosebitb]

There are new migraine drugs on the market - so you should definitely speak to a migraine expert. Keep a diary of what you eat, when you wake up, how much water you drink etc. Sometimes its the small things that can trigger a migraine - a food, a wine, the weather, changing a sleep pattern etc. Check this link - cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-... - to learn about recent news in migraine