Beta Blockers/ Inderal and weight gain

[JabbaJawz]

Originally Posted by pixiegirl

I just don't think the results are warranting the side effects.

Me either. You know I don't like my women too chubba-chub. Don't go gettin' all brahma on me or all bets are off!

I have severe migraines too. They have me on Diamox Sequals and Imipramine for daily use and they gave me Imitrex injections for days when I get really bad ones. NOTHING works 100%, sometimes even my injections don't work. They considered Kenalog (sp?) injections in my neck until I told them I was borderline diabetic then they changed their minds right quickly because it is a steroid and that could push my diabetes over the edge. I agree, if the headaches are not gone enough to justify the weight gain then get rid of it!

[Tinkerbell]

Originally Posted by pixiegirl

Seem to. They're VERY hormone driven which they've always been but it seems as if I only get them when I'm PMSing or if I've been up all night. They tried anti-convulsants which didn't do jack to prevent them and made me "special". The headaches have lessened but are not gone. There are other meds that they can try or they can just give me the cotton picking botox (we have to go through all the meds before the insurance co will pay for the botox).

My thought it while the headaches are better they're far from gone and I'm not willing to deal with a bunch of weight gain for a partial result. My blood pressure is already fairly low. She was iffy about putting me on a beta blocker to begin with. I just don't think the results are warranting the side effects.

I've been on Inderol for a few years. I had a bit of weight gain, but to me, it's worth it, given the pain I had with the migraines was horrible and I had to deal with it about 8 times a month. I lost alot of work, time with kids, family functions, etc. because of them.

I hate to break it to you, but you generally are started at the lowest doseage, and they see how that does for about 3 months, and if it's not working well enough, it is increased, etc. and so forth until they find the doseage that is right for you. It's very likely you need to increase your doseage to get better results. I'm on a pretty high doseage now.

You just have to decide if the pain, loss of work, etc. from migraines is worse than a little weight gain (BTW 15 pounds in 4 months is not that significant). It isn't like you are some heffer that can't stand to put on a few pounds.

Also, the staying up all night -- that in and of itself is bad for migraines, because a lack of sleep can trigger them. You may want to keep that to a minimum if you don't want the migraines.

[pixiegirl]

Originally Posted by Tinkerbell

I've been on Inderol for a few years. I had a bit of weight gain, but to me, it's worth it, given the pain I had with the migraines was horrible and I had to deal with it about 8 times a month. I lost alot of work, time with kids, family functions, etc. because of them.

I hate to break it to you, but you generally are started at the lowest doseage, and they see how that does for about 3 months, and if it's not working well enough, it is increased, etc. and so forth until they find the doseage that is right for you. It's very likely you need to increase your doseage to get better results. I'm on a pretty high doseage now.

You just have to decide if the pain, loss of work, etc. from migraines is worse than a little weight gain (BTW 15 pounds in 4 months is not that significant). It isn't like you are some heffer that can't stand to put on a few pounds.

Also, the staying up all night -- that in and of itself is bad for migraines, because a lack of sleep can trigger them. You may want to keep that to a minimum if you don't want the migraines.

Here's where my case is unique. My migraines are not typical migraines though they still classify them as such because of their characteristics. I very rarely get intense pain. I have an "aura" for sure but that's not typical either. My neck gets really tight. If I take anything off the get within the first hour or so of that I'm fine. Imitrex, within 45 minutes no trace of a headache. Aleave + Flexerill and about half the time the headache subsides completely. Aleave by itself and the headache never goes away but never progresses. If I take nothing at all within a couple hours I'm in full blown migraine mode, yacking my guts up, can't move, etc. There's maybe twice a year when I get a migraine that I can't ward off at the very begining stages and for some reason with every one I wake up with it. I wake up and I'm already at the yack stage.

The Inderal didn't really do much for me. When I started it I also started magnesium and Vit B complex. As well as Flexerill as needed. I just hate to take something daily that's not giving me some great benefit but is giving me unwanted side effects.

I just don't know. I need to call the doc is what I need to do.

[Tinkerbell]

Originally Posted by pixiegirl

...I need to call the doc is what I need to do.

Yep, you do. That is obviously the best bet! To be honest, I can't understand why they put you on Inderol at all. My doctor thinks that Beta Blockers should only be used for chronic and/or classic migraines. Ask your doctor about Prozac too. Now, before you say "Whoa, I'm not crazy," Prozac, in recent years has been found to be very effective for migraines and many other physical ailments. I was on it for about a year, and the side effects were not noticeable (to me - may be different for you). Unfortunately, it didn't help enough, so I went to a Beta Blocker.

This is a good website that lists all the various meds that are good for migraine treatment: http://www.migraines.org/
It lists everything for treatment, management and interactive management.

Good luck to you!