Atenolol for migraine prevention

[Ashley]

About a week ago, I was prescribed Atenolol 25-mg. for the prevention of migraine attacks. I take one tablet a day. I was also prescribed Imitrex tablets to take whenever I get a migraine (I haven't taken one yet).

I am a 20-year-old woman and I am in good health, apart from very frequent migraine attacks. I have been experiencing some mild heart palpitations since I began taking the medicine and my pulse is rather low (in the 40's).

I am just a bit uncomfortable taking such a powerful heart medication for migraines. Has anyone else ever had positive results with using this medication for lessening the frequency of migraines? Will my pulse and heart palpitations return back to normal after my body adjusts to the medication? Thank you for your help!

[margie]

I haven't had a migraine since I went on Atenolol. I am afraid to stop taking it. Less side effects and the Atenolol controls my hyperthyroid.

[margie]

I need to clarify. The atenolol slows down my heart which is a symptom of hyperthyroid.

[Debra United Kingdom]

Hi there
I suffer with extreme headaches and migraines. My GP has just prescribed Atenolol 25mg with Naramig Natriptan 2.5mg tabs. The last six months have been extremely bad. I am also going through menopause which doesnt help. I am 47. The doc reackons that this should help me with my sleeping and migraines. Will report back after a week. Is there anyone else out there going through the same? and has this medication helped?

[Denise United Kingdom]

Hi I was just prescribed Atenolol as well, and also Zomig 2.5mg tabs. I'm turning 41 and no sign of menopause, quite healthy and have suffered my whole life with migraines, actually i can't imagine life without them. I haven't started the Atenolol yet, will do tonight, but I get 4 migraines a week! The Zomig narrowed that down to about 3 at the moment, so fingers crossed!
I am really interested to hear about any side affects and if these have made a difference for you?

[Eve]

I've been taking atenolol (75mg a day) for migraine/headache prevention for nearly a year. It definitely helped me. I have near-daily headaches with migraine-like symptoms; they sometimes morph into full-blown migraines. Atenolol helps me sleep. Only downside: it causes excessive sweating and gives me headaches with exercise or exertion. My heart occassionally does little weird things, but not enough to worry me since I've experienced this before atenolol. Make sure your BP stays high enough that you don't faint since atenolol is meant to reduce blood pressure.

I also take 30mg of elavil a day, which also helps the headaches. Midrin (very cheap capsule) works great as an accute med if I take it before the headache gets too bad, but like other accute migraine meds like Imitrex, you can take midrin only 2x per week. I'm allowed to use naproxen sodium daily if needed, but no other pain meds.

Other preventive meds tried: Topamax (lots of side effects), Lexapro (GAVE me headaches), Zonegran, Cymbalta (made me hideously nauseated), Lamictal (GAVE me migraines).

[Victoria]

Just took my first dose this am for migraine control. I ma feeling quite lightheaded.

[Victoria]

I am feeling lightheaded after taking my first dose for migraine control.

[Wendy]

what is the best time of day to take this medication?

[Amanda]

I have been taking atenolol for a month now and I have gone from having about 11 migraines per month to just 3.....that's a result! I am only taking 25mg once daily and I haven't noticed any side effects as yet but keep a check on my blood pressure as it is quite low normally.

[Nedaa]

I started taking daily atenolol 10 days ago. The only side effect is that I am feeling hungry most of the time! I haven't had any migraine attacks yet. I am 44 and I usually have two, three migrains a month, one with my period which is not regular anymore. I am concerned about taking a daily madication. And this one is actually a blood pressure medicine. Those of you who have used the medication for longer periods, could you tell us if you have any side effects which worries you? Should we be worried for all the side effects which are listed in the medicine information such as memory loss??

[DrTDog]

It won't make you high.

[amormormorgs]

I just went to the doctor today for my insistant headaces and migranes and he prescribed me 25mg Atenolol and Treximet as needed...i havent taken any yet, but i often get dizzy and i am worried that this will cause me to faint/my dizziness to get worse...any suggestions??

and how long did it take before you felt any negative side effects??

[malteser]

I'm happy to read that other people from around the world have been prescribed atenolol. Im 22 years old and have suffered with extremely frequent migraines for many years. I've tried all types of prophylactics like zomeg and none work on me. Ive managed to take Atenolol 50mg for 2 months and during this period my migraines had considerably decreased. My concern is that it might be a placebo; and I'm not too keen on taking pills... especially when its got to do with the heart. Glad to report that Ive had no side effects till now.

[chobbie]

I have been taking atenolol 25mg for six months now and they really helped my headaches. I suffered badly around my period and get the odd one in between. Recently though they seem to be coming back, does anyone know if your body gets used to them after a while. I'm 43 and take imigran which help too.

[jewls]

chobbie:
I've been taking atenolol for about 8 months and I do notice that I am starting to get regular headaches all of the sudden.
Has anyone else gained weight because they are too fatigued to get up and exercise? I'm always sooooo tired and I'm only 24 - I feel like I'm 84.

[erin]

about three years ago i took atenolol 25g daily for six months as a migraine preventative. it worked remarkably. while i did experience visual aura several times, i never actually had a migraine. it was incredible to know that i was experiencing an attack but with the pain and side effects. it also helped to drastically reduce the occurence of tension headaches. after i stopped taking atenolol, i experienced reduced migraines and tension headaches for at least one year.

what i did not like about atenolol was how detached it made me feel from my body. it is a beta blocker, which is commonly used to treat heart conditions and high blood pressure, which means that it also excels as a prophylactic. within the first hour of taking my first dose, i felt my heart rate slow down. within a few days i experienced such extreme numbness and tingling in my entire arms and legs that i went to the hospital, where i was told i was experiencing a migraine and not a side effect to the drug. for the entire six months that i took atenolol, my heart rate was slow. it also affected my circulation and i constantly suffered from cold hands and feet. finally, it messed up my metabolism and i gained about 15-20 pounds. i don't really recall having been lethargic while taking it as it was quite some time ago. another worthy point to note - within a couple of weeks after i had stopped taking it, i experienced an extremely high heart rate one day (fluctuating between 180 and 210). within an hour this stopped and never occured again.

it's a tough call. it prevented my migraines and gave me my life back, but i felt so detached from myself and void of adrenaline and excitement that i have a hard time deciding if it was worth it. it did save my life though - i was snorkelling in the ocean while on vacation and the current brought me too far from the boat. because my heart rate never increased, i stayed calm enough to make it back to the boat alive.

my migraines are full force again and my family doctor has prescribed inderal. she said while it is still a beta blocker, she said it is not as strong as atenolol. has anyone tried it?

[erin]

in regards to my previous post, i meant atenolol 25mg (not 25g). if it helps, i was 25/26 when i first took atenolol and healthy, save from being a smoker at the time.

[hugmedan]

Yes. 25mg of Atenolol is very mild, and I've been taking it for 13 years for my migraines as well as my blood pressure. It is completely safe. I haven't had any side effects.

[chobbie]

since my last posting I have been to my doctor and she has put my dosage up to 50mg and I haven't (yet) had any side effects but too early to tell about the headaches. I have not put on any weight. It has also really helped calm me down in that i don't get so anxious and het up about things that I used to, my husband thinks this is great!