Candesartan for Migraine Prevention User Reviews

• Debbie
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 13, 2020

"Have suffered from severe migraines all my life - I am now 55. Have been on 4 mg Candesartan daily for nearly eight months now - in that time have had NO migraines, which is unheard of for me! I can hardly believe there is a medication which works so well. Used to get at least one super bad migraine a fortnight. This has changed my life - I no longer live in terror of a migraine wrecking my health, my emotional state, my social life, work, and other commitments. I have no side effects from this medication and am very happy to recommend it. I wish I'd discovered it forty years ago and saved myself all that misery!"

• Chronic
• February 24, 2020

"Candesartan has been life-changing. Been on every med possible for migraines, did allergy testing, reiki healing, chiropractor (this one was a terrible choice as it damaged my neck discs - long story but never again), I did yoga, Pilates, massage, I tried everything. Had migraines since I was 17 now 46. They have progressively gotten worse over the years with nausea, vomiting, numbness in arm, sensitive to light so wore shades all the time. I was hospitalized recently as thought I was having a stroke. Put on these candesartan tablets starting at 3mg and increasing every two weeks until I reached 16mg. I used to wake up each morning with migraines, got up to 15 migraines, bad ones a month and headaches for the rest. I got tired of living as I could never plan anything or arrange to meet up with anyone as I would wake with a migraine. Since I have been on these, they have given me my life back. I can look towards the bright sky, I wake with no pain, I can plan events, and I am calmer. Give these a go if you have migraines."

• justa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 10, 2018

"Has been a life changer for me. I suffered from chronic migraines. A day didn't go by without it happening, I would sometimes be awake all night as well. This led to a lot of time off work, with increased stress, which only made things worse. I was prescribed Topiramate, which I had to quit after only 3 days due to awful side effects for me. Propranolol worked amazingly, but I suffer from asthma, and it made my attacks very worrying as my inhaler would not work to combat the asthma. Candesartan, at only 8mg a day, has made my life worth living. It has reduced the constant daily throbbing to practically nothing. I have my sense of humor back and a reason for getting out of work. Also, for me, zero side effects. Incredible."

• Lisa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 22, 2024

"Suffered since I was a teenager with migraines, I am now 54, and after the last episode that lasted three days during which I was really ill, I visited my GP. I have seen numerous neurologists, been on many preventative treatments (up to two weeks ago I was on topiramate) but nothing worked. I was becoming dependent on triptans, which had also stopped working. I have been taking candesartan for two weeks, and I haven’t had one headache. I usually wake up daily with a headache that leads to a migraine. They were ruining my life, and I was becoming increasingly depressed with the attacks. I know everyone is different, so one drug that works for one will not work for another, but if you suffer from migraines (I was averaging 15 a month), try candesartan. It has transformed how I am feeling in a couple of weeks. Fingers crossed it continues."

• Jan
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 15, 2020

"I am 66 and had migraines from the age of 32 - so for 34 years. I managed them well with either pink/yellow migraleve. None of the other migraine drugs worked for me. 5 years ago I developed overnight status migraines. Which were horrendous. My life as I knew it ended. I have always been sociable and capable. It all disappeared. I was constantly terrified of an attack which was preceded by an aura and vomiting. I was prescribed amitriptyline - beta blockers - zolmitriptan - nothing worked. My life, to all intents and purposes, was over. My neurologist suggested candesartan. After 2 days I felt different on 12mg per day. It is over 3 years now and I am back. I still get a migraine but they are manageable. I am so grateful."

• ej96
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 29, 2021

"I started candesartan in November after being diagnosed with chronic migraine to the point where I had one every day, and I felt hopeless. I was given pizotifen, but that left me feeling very depressed, so I came off it. Candesartan seems to work for me so far. I was on 4 mg at night, then titrated up to 8, and then 16 mg. 16 mg was too much for me because I felt a bit faint (I’d say that’s the main side effect that I felt, otherwise, it’s really good if you don’t like side effects). I’d say take it at night if you have BP issues to save that side effect. So I’m adjusting to 12 mg at night, and that seems to have got my headaches under control for now, and the severity has reduced a lot, so I’m happy. Hope it helps you."

• kmh
• September 14, 2017

"I have suffered with migraines for the past 34 years. I had chronic acute migraines (18-27 per month). I have been on more preventive medications than I can count. My neurologist put me on candesartan because nothing else had worked. I started at 4 mg and now take 8mg. In the three months that I have been on candesartan, I have only had a handful of very treatable migraines. I feel like my life is in my control now and my migraines no longer control me."

• sbug
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 15, 2020

"I have migraines and tried topiramate (horrific), propranolol (made hair super thin), and nebivolol (had to continually increase dose) to prevent migraines. Then I went 'cold turkey,' which was hellish. Finally, I was prescribed Candesartan, which I have been on at a low dose (16 mg) for a year, and now I only have 1-2 'average' migraines a month, which I can manage with triptans. It's a godsend!"

• Ang
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 11, 2018

"I have been suffering from migraines increasingly since 2000. I have tried about 10 different drugs for prophylaxis, and only sodium valproate worked at 1g per day. It then stopped working. Candesartan 8mg has been a complete breakthrough. 4mg was no good, but since I have been on 8mg, I have got my life back. I’ve taken it for about a year now."

• Toni
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 20, 2019

"I started to take this for high blood pressure a month ago. Since then I haven't had any proper migraine. The treatment for me was effective within 2 days. I used to have 2/3 migraines per week. Therefore, if this would work forever, it would be the best treatment I have taken in my whole life. I hope the effect doesn't start to fade away; however, I only take 2 mg, and I have seen that there are higher doses... so I feel optimistic that I will work for long."

• Bano
• February 20, 2020

"I have been on many meds to control my migraines that I had once a week for 3 days, then fatigue and brain fog for 3 days after that. After coming off Topiramate because of the awful side effects, I was prescribed candesartan 16 mg. I've been taking it for 3 months now. I still have a weekly migraine, but only for a few hours. The only side effect I seem to have is an intermittent runny nose. I actually feel like I have my life back."

• Thelo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 10, 2018

"I am so shocked this worked. And at such a low dose. First time I have been migraine-free since I started having migraines. Minor side effects like leg cramping, which are annoying, but nowhere near as bad as migraines. So happy!!"

• Myrthe
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 31, 2021

"As I have low blood pressure, I was hesitant to try this medicine. However, the dizziness subsided after only a few days. After that, no migraine for a couple of months! They have come back, though, so I will start a higher dose as of today (the maximum dose of 32 mg). Until now, very positive! It’s been a life saver."

• Nettie...
• October 24, 2016

"I was prescribed this drug for migraine prevention, starting at 4 mg and increasing the dosage by 4 mg until I got to 16 mg, if the migraines had not improved. They didn't, and the side effects I experienced were extremely loud tinnitus at 8 mg and above, hair loss, acid reflux resulting in the need to take omeprazole to counteract this, insomnia, hot sweats, nausea, and weight gain of 22 lb due to the fact that I felt so ill, I was unable to do regular exercise. Not a nice drug and did not reduce the severity of my migraine."

• amy
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 18, 2023

"Day 4 of using it for migraine prevention on 2mg and already side effects of feeling dizzy, unwell, fullness in my ears, and stuffed nose. The light-headed is affecting me most at work and at such a low dose."

• Singer
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 12, 2016

"I'm in the UK and was prescribed candesartan for migraine prophylaxis and mild hypertension ~10 months ago, and it's been a complete success. I was instructed to titrate the dose from 8 mg up to 32 mg, but stopped at 16 mg as 32 mg was making me drowsy. Migraines have reduced from >1 per week to 1 every 2-3 months, which is a huge benefit."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 23, 2015

"I had a horrible experience on candesartan. I tapered up from 4 mg to 16 mg over a period of 6 weeks. Before 16 mg, there was no effect on my migraines, which I usually get around 6 times/month. The day I started taking 16 mg, however, the candesartan triggered daily migraines, which had never happened to me before in the 15 years since I started getting migraines (I'm now 44). It took me 4 days to realize the candesartan was triggering the migraines, at which point I stopped cold turkey. The daily migraines then continued for 6 more days until I started taking Amitriptyline 10 mg. As well as daily migraines, I also experienced severe anxiety, panic attacks, depression, and loss of appetite once I stopped the candesartan."

• JP-52
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 20, 2023

"Starting this medication just over a year ago has been a complete game-changer for me. Have suffered for 40 years and had escalated to 15+ migraines per month. My neurologist started me on this after exhausting many options and what she considered was the overuse of a tryptan which was the only thing that kept me functioning but potentially also caused rebound. After titrating up to 16mgs my migraines have reduced to 2-3 per month. To have more pain-free days than not is just amazing and feel as though I have my life back. I feel slightly light-headed at times but that’s all and doesn’t last long. Wish I had been given this years ago as this has for sure been life-changing. I’m in the UK and blessed that I receive this medication free on our NHS."

• Tess
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 7, 2020

"I’ve been taking Candesartan for about 6 months now. I have tried many other migraine preventatives over the years, but nothing has lasted. This medication has decreased my daily migraines to just a few a month. It hasn’t had any impact on my menstrual migraines, though. I started on 4 mg and am now on 8 mg. The only side effects I can complain about are dizziness if I stand up too fast or overexert myself. I have also found it increases the effects of any painkillers I take, so I try to take any pain meds a few hours before taking the Candesartan, which seems to help. I finally have my life back!"

• Paul
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 9, 2016

"My neurologist recommended candesartan for my migraines. I was already on Nortriptyline and getting good results. The idea was that I could stop my high blood pressure medication and use a single drug to manage both. Candesartan has worked extremely well. It has reduced my migraines from 1-2 per week to 1-2 per month. I found it works better than Nortriptyline for me. Plus, it also helps to control my high blood pressure. The only problem I have is rebound headaches if I miss more than 1 dose. It takes only 2 days before I'm hit with severe migraines if I stop."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 9, 2016

"I took Candesartan to prevent chronic migraines. Instead, it started triggering them on a daily basis. Once I realized the medication was the culprit, I stopped taking it. My neuro prescribed me 10 mg amitriptyline, which stopped the daily migraines, but like another reviewer wrote, it took approximately two weeks for me to stop experiencing severe anxiety and panic caused by Candesartan. It was a horrible drug for me."

• Demi
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 23, 2023

"Candesartan has been a godsend for me. I was diagnosed with chronic migraine and went through about five different preventatives before being prescribed candesartan. I have now been on 16mg daily for about a year and a half now and life feels worth living again. Although I do still get the occasional migraine, they have definitely reduced in frequency and severity. The only side effect I’ve had the whole time is lightheadedness, but I will take that any day over a migraine."

• Lolly
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 16, 2019

"I started Candesartan 2 weeks ago for migraine prevention. It had helped but has caused severe bruising and leg pain, possibly blood clots. I am stopping the 8 mg candesartan immediately under medical advice. Withdrawal symptoms are awful. Almost as bad as migraine."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 9, 2024

"Been on them for about 5 months now, and I was having 2-3 migraines every week, which basically stopped me from living my life. I've since had 1 in the past 5 months. I get the odd headache and frequent infections, but compared to 3 migraines a week, it's nothing. Honestly, my migraines were so bad that I was getting one straight after another. Sometimes I would be in bed for weeks, and now I'm out all the time, going places, spending time with my family. My life has completely changed."

• Migra...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 11, 2022

"Neurologist prescribed Candesartan for daily complex migraine aura. GP tried Triptans which didn’t work. Suggested 3 ibuprofen which didn’t stop migraines but gave 3 hours relief. So neurologist suggested taking blood pressure tablets. I had normal blood pressure overall but neurologist thought I might be having blood pressure spikes. Given candesartan, told it had the least side effects. Started on 2mg and the dose gradually increased to 16mg after regular bloods. Quickly, migraines became less frequent, less intense, aura symptoms slower. Once on 16mg, migraines virtually stopped, maybe 1 or 2 a month and easily stopped dead with Ibuprofen. For me, Candersartan was a miracle migraine cure. Side effects, nasal congestion, sore throat, raspy voice, bit light headed. Took for 2 years & then started getting terrible neck pain, arm pain, leg pain so bad walking was hard. Stopped candersartan, all pain stopped 3 days later & sinuses/throat back to normal. Migraines still ok."