Tapering off candesartan for migraine

[Wrexham16]

I want to come off 16mg candesartan which is not working for migraine prevention. I have previously had a very bad experience going cold turkey with a different drug. Has anyone tapered off candesartan and if so how?

[Francesca21]

Hi ive not tapered off candesarten …….. yet, but ive weaned off other drugs that were rumoured to be awful coming off and it wasnt awful for me - just did it so so slowly - have medics advised you ? Am sure any pharmacist would be happy to tell you rite amounts to drop down weekly or fortnitely. One of main ones I hated being on and was warned would be awful to come off was duloxetine.but it was fine.im on candesarten only started 3-4 weeks ago on 2 mg daily aft 2 wks it was upped to 4 mg. I have cough and throat clearing prob as side effect . Gp said stuck it out for couple more weeks as wel know if working. Mine isnt as preventative as ive had chronic for 19 month permanent pain. Hasnt really worked yetI want to know did you build up to 16 mg slowly? How long you been on it?

Hope it goes well? And what else have u tried as preventative? Propranolol and amitriptyline worked well for me for ten years. I now know nortriptyline is better and amitriptyline. Good luck hope u find something that works for you.

[Wales99 in reply to Francesca21]

Hi Francesca. I’ve not long started on Candasartan. I started on 2mg a day then every four days increased it by one tablet until on a max of 8mg. That worked for a couple of weeks then the migraines came back. I’m now doing the same, every 4 days increase it by one tablet until I’m on a max of 16mg (so 8 2mg tablets). I’m still getting a few migraines a week but I think that’s partly due to a problem I have with my eyes (Glaucoma). I was on propranolol for a couple of years but then it stopped working but that was the time I was diagnosed with Glaucoma so I think that had a lot to do with it. Hope you get on OK with the Candasartan, I like it because I’ve not really had any side effects. 😊.

[Francesca21 in reply to Wales99]

My gp will only let me increase every two wks been nearly four wks now im hoping for a cancellation with neuro but if one dosnt come along im seeing him dec 15. Hopefully gp let me go to 8 mg from next friday i like it as only mild cough in evenings and throat clearing which i can cope with and may settle . Am desp fpr something to work. I fear it’s permanent aft 19 months i dont even care about the tingling face or light n noise aversion. I tried a keto diet for six wks with mo improvement im hearing u need to do for 3 months . The stanton protocol seems to have lots of followers but seem cultish and i dont feel comfortable with a lot of their posts. I dont know why.

[Francesca21 in reply to Wales99]

He gave me 4mg tablets . 8 x 2 ? Do u spread them out throu the day? Have bloods taken with each increase? I have to

[Wales99 in reply to Francesca21]

Mine are 2mg. Luckily I’m going through a pharmacist at my GP surgery & she’s really good. It’s through her that I’ve increased the dose. I know it’s so debilitating. This has been going on for 6 years for me - since menopause started at 51. I can’t exercise properly anymore because that always triggers one. I did keep a food diary when I was first diagnosed which the Neurologist asked me to do and what I was eating & drinking made absolutely no difference whatsoever. I don’t know what the Stanton protocol is but I’m very wary of faddy diets & groups 😊. Yes I take them all in one go - the pharmacist said it was best that way. She said they will do blood tests when I’ve been on them a while. Good luck & I hope you get to see a Neurologist soon.

[Wrexham16 in reply to Francesca21]

HiMy pharmacist who I think is good could not give me any advice and the doctors say you can just stop but I am very wary of that. i have been on candesartan for 2 years and thought I was tolerating it well but it hasn't helped the migraine and I am finding some things mentioned by other people such as cramps, itching and mouth problems which I could tolerate if the drug helped my migraine but it doesn't. My consultant says I might as well stay on it until I get an appointment for Botox but I don't see the point

[Francesca21]

My daughter in law is a pharmacist when i weaned off duloxetine cant remember if it was her or dr that sed drop it gradually week by week

[Wrexham16]

Thanks. I have found something online which suggests 10% reduction each week so I'm going to try that

[Cat00]

I've come off Candersartan but I cant remember what dose I was on I'm afraid, I had to come off because my blood pressure dropped too low. I didn't have any problems coming off it and I have been sensitive to other withdrawals like Pregablin and Gabapentin. I came off it over two weeks.

[Wrexham16 in reply to Cat00]

HiThanks for that. I have decided to go slowly because I have had difficulties with other drugs particularly amitriptyline. I guess everyone is different

[Cat00 in reply to Wrexham16]

Yes I've come off Amitriptyline 4 times now mainly for pregnancy. To be honest I think we should always come off all drugs as slowly as possible, unless you are allergic to them, because it allows you to physically and mentally adjust. I came off Gabapentin and Pregablin in the time the doctors told me, the first time, never again! They said two weeks. The next time I had to do it I did it over 6 weeks the whole thing went much better!

[1518]

Hi,I was on 8mg of Candesartan and was told I was ok to just stop taking it, but I decided to halve it for a couple of weeks and then stop. I didn't have any side affects. I've since started taking it again- 10mg and very fortunately for me it is working, the only thing that ever has. I hope you find something that works for you, good luck.

[Wrexham16 in reply to 1518]

lucky you. Hope it continues to help

[WelshUnderdog]

I started coming off it 2mg at a time to go on the Ajovy injection but had to increase the dosage again to cope with my migraines. The neurologist recommended 2mg reduction a week.