What’s your experience with candesartan plz? And advice please..

[rhea_smith1991]

Hello everyone!

I’ve been on candersartan for 3 weeks not at 4mg (so the low starting dose) and am still unable to up the dose as it’s really lowering my already low blood pressure and making me really dizzy.. 😩 My BP is naturally inits 90s and this is lowering it to its 80s my nuro has told me to try a few more weeks but I really can’t see me getting to the 16mg dose they want if I can’t even tolerate 4mg! As this is originally meant for lowering blood pressure, will it continue to lower mine or will my body adjust?

On top of this it hasn’t done anything to help with the migraines (even tho I know I need longer on it). But I feel like am just wasting my time on this something that isn’t agreeing with me and would rather start something else instead.. I’ve tried propranolol as well and that did the same thing so does anyone have any suggestions what I could try next that doesn’t lower BP? Thanks x

[Chleo11]

Hello rhea. It is surprising that your doctor put you on Candesartan when you already suffer from low blood pressure. 4mg is not likely to help you, I guess. The issue here in the UK is that all doctors, head specialists or not, only follow the NHS protocole. No rhyme or reason why they give you a medicine over another. They just go through the list of medication/injections and fob off any concerns you may raise, especially if you start talking about side-effects.

You know that all these drugs are not conceived for migraines but it is actually only by coincidence and pure luck if they work for some migraineurs. Doctors try to tell you that this or this medic will work but they don't even know what your specific migraines are caused by, and they don't want to know. I think we would know by now if any of these drugs was actually working on more than a handful of people.

On Candesartan it took me quite a while (more than a few weeks) before I stopped being dizzy. Normally your body (blood pressure) should re-adjust itself after a while. I guess what you could try is to take 8 mg (do you know that you need to take it on the evening for migraines?) on an evening before a day off when you have nothing planned. You would then be able to stay at home doing nothing in case you feel really unwell.

Good luck!

[rhea_smith1991 in reply to Chleo11]

Yes i have started taking it at bed time, also the nuro said that because am young and healthy lowering my blood pressure even more isn’t much of a concern if am not experiencing dizziness.. But I am experiencing really bad dizziness I feel like my legs could just give away some times and have to just sit or lie down.. I really don’t like it am going to ring my GP Monday and ring my nuro and ask if I could try something else..

[Hidden]

Hi Rhea. I am not medical but have just been prescribed Candesartan as I suffer with high Blood pressure and also migraines. In my case I suspect the migraines may be related to high BP but no doctor has stated that. I have tried several other BP meds before but these had different side effects and also did not have the advantage of helping with migraines. My doctor has started me on just 2mg of Candesartan which I think is the lowest dose. Is it worth asking if you can start on that? As I understand it Candersartan is prescribed primarily for high blood pressure but the benefit for migraine sufferers is an extra benefit, although it seems uncertain whether this has been actually proven. I understand it works by widening and relaxing the blood vessels thereby reducing the blood pressure. If your BP is already normal it does seem odd they have prescribed this. I was previously prescribed Topiramate for migraines (not a BP med) but that had awful side effects on the stomach and I believe can also affect long term memory. Have they considered triptans? Also have you tried Magnesium and/or Vitamin B2 supplements? I have just started taking B2 and already take Magnesium. Hope this helps a bit

[rhea_smith1991 in reply to Hidden]

Yes I have tried triptans they don’t work and as I get migraines most days and really severe I need to be on a preventative.. I’ve just had nerve block done on the right side of my head to see if that works but I still need to be on a preventative as they may not work (am praying they do!) I find it odd they go to candersartan when I have naturally lower BP and I know there are other meds available 😩 I could try halving these tablets for a week see how I go.. I really just wana try a different one am so dizzy and feel like my legs could just give way 😩 I have ordered magnesium and I take b2 but I have read B1 also helps it all so goin to order that too.. thank you for your advice.

[Cat00]

Hello

I was put on Candesartan too my blood pressure is already low and my heart rate correspondentally high 80s-90s. Candesartan lowered it more I was constantly dizzy and it didn't help so I came off it after about 3 months.

[rhea_smith1991 in reply to Cat00]

Aww yes this is like me 😩 I wana just come off it and start a new one I can’t stand this dizziness and weak leg feeling.. what are you on now?

[Cat00 in reply to rhea_smith1991]

I'm on Amitriptyline ( for sleep more than anything else ) and I'm in second month of the CGRP injection. I was having botox but that all stopped during lockdown. Never did get rid of that weak leg feeling til I came of Candersartan. Funnily enough I started Candersartan in an unwilling state of mind too bc my GP prescribed it instead of headache specialist who I trust more. When I eventually saw her she said it was one of the newer medications and therefore a good choice but id come off it by then!

[OilyWiggles]

If I was in your position, I'd stop taking it (taper off slowly, if possible) and tell your doctors that you can't tolerate the adverse effects. There are plenty of other drugs to try. I couldn't stand amytryptiline or topiramate, can't take Beta blockers due to being asthmatic, but have had some luck with pizotifen (although it still makes me sleepy and hungry).

Sometimes, you have to be firm with them and tell them what you want/don't want.

[rhea_smith1991 in reply to OilyWiggles]

Yes I’ve cut my dose in half to 2mg and am still waking up spinning, I have to lie in bed awake for about 15/20 mins before I get up.. I have a phone consultation with nuro 7th Sep so will tell them then that I want to stop it and try something else. I’ve never heard of pizofiten? Glad it’s helping you though!

[OilyWiggles in reply to rhea_smith1991]

It sounds like you're doing the right thing. If you want to see which other drugs (and other information about them) are recommended for migraine, you can download the BNF app.

[rhea_smith1991 in reply to OilyWiggles]

that’s great thank you! Will download that now.