About to try Propanolol. Anyone found it helpful?

I'm about to try Propanolol (Cardinol) as a preventative. I tried other beta blockers some 15 - 20 years ago and I don't recall whether I stopped because they weren't effective or the side effects were too severe

My target dose is 160 mg/day. However due to my hyper-sensitivity to every migraine medication tried so far. the doctor is starting me on 10 mg/day and increasing the dose by 10 mg per week. After 9 weeks (when I get to 100 mg/day) he'll make a decision on whether to continue up to the 160 mg target or start reducing it.

In the past, if I have started a medication gradually, then when it comes time to stop taking it, the medication has been reduced at half the rate at which it increased. This is due to the nasty effects withdrawal causes.

Does anyone have any experience of starting out with such a low dose? Any idea when I am likely to see any results (good or bad)? What should I look out for. The thought of taking 4 months to build up to full dose and then a winding down of up to 8 months if things don't work out is not the most exciting of prospects.

So, now up to 40 mg/day. No noticeable side effects, no noticeable relief

Hmm I too took a beta blocker years back and I cannot remember which one - if I am honest it did nothing, but it was in the days when I was on my knees all the time.....

No side effects is good............

I can imagine it is frustrating having to start on such as low dose but it will defiantly be worth it if they help in the long run. I started on 80mg and nothing really happened but then I went to see a neurologist who told me that 80mg was to low to really do anything anyway and put me up to 160mg. I have been on that for over two years now and my migraines are a lot less frequent so they has been some level of success for me. My GP also told me that it takes three months for them to work whilst other doctors told me if they are not working after a month then to come off them so sometimes it is best to stick with it just to see if they are working but I can imagine it is hard when you already have to take it slow. I really hope they start working for you soon because it has been life changing for me.

Wow that's a high dose

If it works then great, a big frustration is high dose medication which doesn't work!

The neurologist that I saw said that if necessary I could go up to 320mg but thankfully I have not had to go higher than 160mg. It does have side effects but nothing as bad as having lots of migraines so I am fairly happy being on them.

Currently on 50 mg per day. No noticeable improvement in migraines, but getting what I suspect are some adverse reactions:
Numb toes due to coldness - constantly cold and unable to keep them warm.
Blue colouring in fingernails - hands stiff and clumsy.
Abdomen feels very bloated and moderate constipation.
Pulse rate often falls to around 50 beats per minute during the day although at the moment it's close to normal (71 bpm, bp 117/66).
Constantly feel very tired and cold

As it's coming into winter here I don't think I will be able continue with this regime without risk of frostbite to my extremities

Saw the doctor today and I'm off the propranolol. And I've learnt something new - I have Raynaud's disease. I'm also off the caffergot as some of my migraines are probably hemiplegic. So I am back to no medication at all.

Not sure where I go from here apart from trying to pack four weeks worth of living into the 10 or so days per month I have available to me and finding the pleasures of life wherever I can. Currently that is enjoying the fantastic flavour and aroma of feijoa (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acca_sellowiana). We grow it as hedge along one side of our property and currently harvesting between 10 and 20 Kg of fruit per week. The aroma fills the house and it's one that I appreciate even during a migraine.

That sounds rough I am sorry to hear you have Raynaud's disease but good to see your staying positive, you can probably fit more into life in 10 days then most people do fit into a month because many who live free of illness do not understand how precious every day is. Also do not give up on trying to lessen the number of migraines you have. Have you tried alternative treatments if the medications do not agree with you?

Hi, I'm on a small sode currently of propranolol, 40mg per day, only thing that's good is my bp!!!!

Meant to say dose!!!