Does anyone have experience with Candesartan to prevent tension headaches?

[moosmum13]

After 10 months of successfully preventing tension headaches with amitriptyline, this is no longer working and the constant headache is back. GP has suggested 4mg of Candesartan to be increased to 8mg if there is no improvement. I see people have mentioned Candesartan is used to lower blood pressure and I have been told to stop taking my current BP medication as this will prevent headaches and lower BP. Sounds good right? As of now, I am only concerned with shifting this incessant headache does anyone have any news - good or bad- to share about this medication regarding its headache reducing abilities?

[Cara71]

I'm on 8mgs and have been for two months but sadly it's not helped my daily headaches so will be coming off it. Others on this site have had good results though

[moosmum13 in reply to Cara71]

Sorry to hear that. Hope you find something else that helps.

[PurpleTranmere]

Hi I take candesartan for chronic migraines. After many many preventative treatments this is the only medication that has helped with my migraines. I am on 16mg now and other than when I started them I’ve had no side effects. At the beginning it was a bit of dizziness and feeling lightheaded for a few days.

[Cavapoochonowner]

hello there, I have taken amitriptyline as a migraine preventative for 8 years.I started with 10mg per day for a couple of years, then went up to 20mg after it stopped working.I have graves disease which results in anxiety for me and fast heartrate.Last year my migraines started again but my GP didn't want to increase my amitriptyline.Instead he started me on proprananol as another preventative.This is also a beta blocker.I take 20mg 3x a day.I still take the amitriptyline.This has been very successful for me.My migraines are much less frequent, and if I do get one it is just there in the background and I can function.This is my experience.Hope it helps.

[moosmum13]

It certainly does help, thank you for your reply.

[Vieille]

I took 500mg amitriptyline which worked for several years in reducing migraine. When it stopped working I was switched to pizotifen which seems to work most of the time and without the strange visual effects of amitriptyline. I hope something works for you.

[Roonie22]

I have taken amitriptyline for about 15 years! Over this time, I have increased the dose, at one point stopped taking it altogether, and now I am on the highest dose I’ve ever been on. I currently take 50mg a day to try and manage my migraines, which dramatically increased in frequency at the beginning of this year. This, along with starting HRT, seem to be having a positive effect at the moment. I have also taken atenolol (25 mg daily) for about 15 years to manage my migraines. It’s really hard to know what works, whether it’s worth changing medication or increasing doses of medication that appears to not be working so well. It’s a balancing act! Trust your instinct about what is working for you. 

[Mavary]

Hi I’m on Candersarton for blood pressure. I used to suffer really badly with migraines from a little girl until about ten years ago. I ended up with headaches every morning when I woke up. They’ve now gone and ( I know I should touch wood) that’s gone. I was on Losarton before the Candersarton so who knows. Perhaps controlling the blood pressure may have cured them. I am 79 now so it may be that as you get older you could feel better. It’s a long wait when you are a sufferer.

[troy04]

Hi, Candesartan may work to prevent migraine but the clinical studies were conducted with 16mg, not 8mg. There are leaflets that GP can print out for you, 16mg is suggested by UK health guidance. However any increase must be gradual. Some GPs for whatever reasons think 8mg is the appropriate dose, which is not entirely correct. You should try 8mg for 2 months, if it doesn't work, see a different GP and mention if you should try 16mg. If 8 mg works then that's great but if it doesn't you need to try 16mg for 3 months for full assessment. It can make you a bit low energetic particularly if you do not have high BP, but since you do, you may be fine. But 4mg won't make a massive difference for migraine, it's just a starting dose. Good luck 🙂

[moosmum13 in reply to troy04]

Thank you for this information. You are quite right, my GP has suggested 4mg with an increase to 8mg if it doesn't help. As you say, probably the guidelines they have been given. Good to know.

[Sgal]

hi. I have recently been diagnosed with chronic migraines. I have tried various treatments and prophylaxis treatments. I am currently taken candesartan, 6 mg per day. Slow increase to 8mg 2x day with regular kidney blood tests. I have found a big difference in my daily headaches at this current dose of 6mg. I no longer have a headache daily. I still have migraines maybe 3x month and hope that this will improve as I move up a dose.

[catrinel35]

Hello ,l want so very much to be helpful but I have The same problem ,I have begin yesterday this tratament with candesartan 8 mg .I am at The begin of.