Propranolol for Migraine Prevention User Reviews (Page 2)

• gwe...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 12, 2013

"I have suffered from panic attacks since the age of 13. My doctor prescribed propranolol on an as-needed basis for this, and it helped tremendously. I usually have severe periods of irritable bowel syndrome during my panic attacks, which can lead to having to use the restroom over 10 times a day. It's painful, makes eating impossible, is embarrassing, and is a huge nuisance to deal with in public. Propranolol completely eradicates the physical manifestations of my panic attacks. The IBS is eliminated, I don't cry excessively, I don't get extremely hot or cold, I can breathe normally, and I am able to rationally address the problem at hand."

• Ran...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 1, 2013

Propranolol "I have been suffering from migraine-tension headaches for more than two years now. I tried paracetamol and NSAIDs, but all were not effective until my doctor prescribed me beta blockers 'propranolol' Inderal 20 mg twice a day, and my headaches really improved after 2-3 months. Thanks!"

• Jen...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 24, 2014

"I have been on the propranolol for about 4 months, and it has done miracles with my migraines. I have only had one aura in that time. The problem is that I have gained 20 pounds without making any changes to my diet or exercise routine. I wish that the medicine didn't have the unwelcome weight gain side effect."

• Zoe...
• June 8, 2020

"I am taking propranolol for hemiplegic migraine and anxiety, I am on 80 mg/day, and I feel more calm than ever. The migraine attacks happen less often, are less aggressive, and I can generally socialize normally. On the other hand, I feel depressed, tired, I lack energy to get up in the morning, although I was a very active person. I suffer from insomnia and don't feel like going out of the house anymore. I totally recommend it for extreme cases of migraine such as mine, but if I'd have regular migraine with aura, I'd rather have the attacks than the side effects of this."

• For...
• March 24, 2017

"Okay, so basically: my psychiatrist prescribed this as a way of managing my situational/social anxiety. He said its ability to lower the sympathetic nervous system response would help. Indeed, it did. BUT EVEN BETTER: I have had ocular migraines with auras and the works for the last several years. I thought they were infrequent, but because they mostly affect my neck and eyes, I have a hard time telling. I didn't realize this drug could be used for migraine treatment, but I took it for anxiety and suddenly realized that, for the first time in quite a while, my head didn't vaguely hurt. I think I may have been experiencing some semi-chronic moderate ocular migraines without realizing it, and this took the worst of it away! I'm tickled."

• sma...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 5, 2016

"Propranolol is a life-saver for my chronic migraine problem! My symptoms (painful to think; severe headache on one side; nausea; vomiting - needed an ice pack). Too much sleep was a trigger. I have tried many other drugs without success (verapamil, atenolol, triptyline). I think atenolol does not work for migraines because it does NOT cross the blood-brain barrier. Propranolol does have the side effect of powerful vivid dreams (pleasant and unpleasant). In the long term, I found that to be somewhat enjoyable. I highly recommend Propranolol (20 mg/day) for anyone suffering from chronic migraines! I suffered 3 migraines per week for 15 years before a doctor tried prescribing it. It has restored my life to normal."

• Anonymous
• March 13, 2008

"I suffered from migraines with increasing frequency from about 6 years old. When I was about 14, I started to get them four or five times a month. At 15, I had a constant migraine; I would black out and faint every time I stood up. I couldn't sleep or eat. At points, I just wanted to die. It never went away, and a long list of painkillers and other medications failed to work. Propranolol stops them almost completely. I still get them every couple of months, but that is not so much of a problem."

• Aut...
• July 2, 2013

"When I was 16 years old, I had what most people would have thought was a stroke. My entire right side was numb. I was slurring my words, my lip was drooping, and I had a terrible migraine. I was diagnosed with having complex migraines. I'm 17 now, and I had another 'episode' in May. Just recently, I had another one this month. But since I have been on this medication, I have had little to no headaches unless I forget to take it for a couple of days, but propranolol saved my life. If I continue to have these episodes, then we will know that it's more than just a migraine, and we are going to have to see a neurologist. I have had 2 CAT scans that showed no tumors, but my dad had brain tumors that were small. Wish me luck!"

• Mig...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 3, 2019

"This drug is a lifesaver. I tried all sorts of medications for my migraine headaches before landing on this miraculous drug. Gabapentin, Topamax, aka Dopamax, nortriptyline didn't help much with preventing it or had side effects I wasn't willing to live with. Maxalt and Imitrex didn't help much with the pain either. I've been on propranolol 80 mg ER for more than 3 years, and I rarely get migraine headaches. Only complaint is the tolerable fatigue and that it doesn't help much with the associated tension headaches I often get, but I'm more than impressed with the results so far."

• Lau...
• August 7, 2015

"I have been suffering from migraines since I was 13. The older I got (I am 28 now), the more severe and frequent they became. After being on a number of medications that either didn't work or caused terrible side effects (Topamax caused short-term memory loss that I still suffer with), I was finally prescribed propranolol. What a lifesaver! For over a year, I would wake up with migraines almost every day; some so severe I couldn't get out of bed for days. After being on this for only a couple of days, I stopped getting migraines! I still get about one a month, but after having one almost continuously for an entire year, I feel like a new person! The only side effect I have experienced is very vivid dreams... But I don't mind that at all, haha."

• Mrs...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 4, 2016

"Migraine sufferer for the last 24 years (since I was 5). I've tried everything! Migralieve, Imigran, Maxalts melts - all as an onset treatment. None worked. I was in bits... 2 children under the age of 6. I get the aura, the paralysis too, which is an issue as it's affected my breathing, the confusion, and inability to speak/eat/drink, etc. I then tried amitriptyline! Never again. It's an old style anti-depressant, and it hit me hard! I was a walking zombie, so spaced out and disrespondent. Then came propranolol, and what a lifesaver! I'm on 40 mg, x3 daily, and from someone who'd suffer daily up to 4 times each day, I'm now down to 1 every 2 months. Excellent! No adverse side effects, nothing."

• my...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 29, 2013

"I am suffering from migraines for eight years. I went to the doctor four years back, and he prescribed me amitriptyline, cinnarizine, and sumatriptan. Though they worked, they were not amazing. Amitriptyline used to make me sleep for hours, and it affected my daily life. I told my doctor about this, and he finally gave me propranolol, and it has worked. Now I have a minor headache, and the frequency has reduced drastically. I am very happy as I can concentrate on other things."

• Anonymous
• November 5, 2008

Propranolol "Before taking Inderal, I was on 300 mg of Topamax daily, which was a miracle drug for me. It completely got rid of my headaches, however, the side effects of Topamax were hard. Now I've been using Inderal for months and have found it almost as effective as Topamax but with little side effects. I highly recommend it."

• Anonymous
• December 31, 2009

Propranolol "This medicine has helped my migraines significantly. I had been having 4-5 migraine attacks per week and now am down to 1 or 2 every few weeks. Some weeks I don't have any. A huge relief. I had migraines for years. I missed work, severe pain, and this medicine is a huge relief. I do feel tired and sluggish, and it may be related to this medicine, but I don't know for sure. I will take that side effect over the pain of a migraine any day."

• Hem...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 7, 2015

"I've suffered with migraines, as has every female in my family since my late teens. By my late 20s, I was searching for a prophylactic as I was using Imitrex far more than recommended (or insurance would pay for). I tried anticonvulsants, antidepressants, and calcium channel blockers, but with no success until I tried propranolol. My migraines nearly disappeared for months. What a joyful and exciting time in my life to be pain-free! Unfortunately, my hair began to fall out in large quantities. Bald spots were forming, and my hairline receding. Not an acceptable side effect for young ladies. I hate I had to stop the propranolol, but there were no other explanations for the hair loss. With new Rogaine hair, I'm back to square one."

• Suz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 5, 2017

"My son was suffering from chronic debilitating migraines with aura, sometimes lasting all night. We tried amitriptyline, which didn't do a thing, and topiramate, that had such horrendous side effects, they were worse than the migraines. He had an MRI, which fortunately was clear, and our last hope was propranolol. Now I read this is good for vascular migraine, and this is what he has, he hears a pulsing in his ear. He started on 20 mg three times a day, and the first few days we didn't notice a difference. I upped it to 40 mg as the pharmacist said it was a low dose for migraine prevention, but this knocked him out, and he seemed quiet and sedated. So we went back to 20 mg, divided doses... lo and behold, a week later he is nearly migraine-free."

• Rob...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 28, 2013

Propranolol "I was prescribed Inderal to help with primary orthostatic tremors. I did not get any relief with this medication for that condition. However, I discovered that whenever I stop taking Inderal, I end up with a migraine headache. I take 20 mg at bedtime. It makes me sleepy and gives me nightmares, which continue to this day. However, the side effects are tolerable and well worth putting up with to prevent getting migraines. I highly recommend this medication for preventing migraines."

• aeb...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 3, 2023

"I have always experienced headache migraines and was diagnosed with vestibular migraines about a year ago. I have now been taking propranolol for around a month, and it has totally changed my life. Used to be dizzy from morning till night, with attacks of debilitating, severe vertigo multiple times throughout the day. Extremely sensitive to light and sound, limiting my ability to spend time with friends/family, leisure activities, and work. The crippling anxiety exacerbated all of this. I am currently taking 20 mg in the morning, and the 'spaciness' is still there but not all day, and the vertigo attacks have almost completely gone. Nowhere near as sensitive to light and sound. I am due to increase my dose to 40 mg with the hope that this will improve my symptoms even further. Little to no anxiety. No side effects yet. I read through these reviews whilst deciding whether to take this, so wanted to 110% recommend this medication to anyone else suffering like I was."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 4, 2016

"I just wanted to say that this med so far has saved my life!! What a blessing. I have tried just about everything for migraine prevention, migraine onset. I have made trip after trip to the ER because I am vomiting so much from my migraines, and they are unresponsive to all treatment. I see a neuro for the migraines, an oral surgeon for my TMJ, and my PCP. I have tried and failed topamax, Trokendi, amitriptyline, nortriptyline, imitrex, fioracet, and more. It wasn't until my PCP prescribed propranolol that I finally got some relief from everyday headaches and chronic 3x a week migraines at least. Instantly after my first two doses of this medication (he started me at 10mg only), I felt extremely better. Helps my anxiety too! A+++"

• Sie...
• March 7, 2020

"After my pregnancy and returning to work full time, my migraines started anytime of the month. And during that time of the month would include vomiting, vertigo, motion sickness. And just about any time ocular disturbances and flashing lights. I tried birth control pills continuously without a break, Imitrex, Maxalt, Amerge, Excedrin Migraine, many recommended vitamins, Preventa Migraine Herbs, and nothing worked on a regular basis. Blood pressure spiked up very high about 2 years ago. Decided to try propranolol, and it has worked for anxiety, migraine, and blood pressure amazingly! However, I have all the side effects - constipation, sometimes depressed, nighttime hallucinations, severe weight gain without change in diet or exercise (25 pounds in less than 2 years), lack of energy, sensitivity to exertion, bloating/water retention, etc."

• Caz...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 4, 2018

"I hope this helps someone reading. I was prescribed propranolol a month ago for my migraines. 80 mg slow release. Since being on them, I've felt so cold all the time and having terrible trouble sleeping. I seem to be in a foul mood and feeling depressed. After 2 weeks, I even got a migraine. I then missed 2 doses over 2 days. I took them mornings. By the 2nd evening, I felt shocking. My heart was beating so fast and then missing beats. My blood pressure went up high. I felt dizzy and out of breath. I'm seeing the dr tomorrow to see how to come off them safely. I've been researching and it seems very dangerous to just stop them. It seems you have to wean off of them. Please research before taking them."

• It ...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 22, 2025

"After a number of years with very strange headaches which came on early afternoon and got worse, I finally succumbed to anxiety and depression. One of the first meds I got for that was propranolol. No headache the next day, never had one since. It didn't touch the anxiety and depression, but for the headaches, which nothing else had even touched, it was a literal miracle, and still is."

• Jul...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 8, 2018

"After seven weeks on this medication, I have only had one migraine. I had been waking nearly every second day with some level of pain in my head. This is a miracle for me, and I couldn't be happier. I have bipolar disorder, and I am on medications for that. Now that I have the propranolol, I feel like a new woman."

• Jil...
• January 29, 2015

Propranolol "Have been taking for over 20 years. Works good for getting less migraines, and even better, helps my tremors. However, when I switched to try the generic, it did neither. Now my insurance wants to make me pay a fee for not being able to use the generic, a fee that equals the list price of the medicine without insurance. I cannot afford to go from $100.00 copay for a 3-month supply to $1,300.00 for the same amount."

• kik...
• January 13, 2015

"Taking propranolol has significantly changed my life. I was averaging one migraine per week. It would be a two-day event with nausea and stomach issues. After starting on 80 mg, the migraines were twice a month. Now, on 120 mg, they occur about once per month. I am due for a medicine check in Feb. I do not know if my doctor will recommend a dose increase again, but the goal is to eliminate the migraines regularly. Missing one dose will cause a pounding, throbbing headache that may last for several hours upon taking the missed dose. This is not doubling up on the dose! There was some fatigue in the very beginning and very odd, vivid dreams at the start and again when the dosage was increased. This has allowed me to live a better life!"