Anyone tried Candesartan for migraine?

[silkbook]

My GP has just proscribed this to see if it helps me. I'm a bit concerned as I've tried beta blockers before and they didn't help and I felt sluggish on them. GP says the candesartan is an excellent medication with a host of benefits for long term health i.e. neuro protective, heart protective, stress reducing as well as reducing migraine. I don't have high blood pressure but I have about 15 migraines a month.

Anyone tried these? How did you find them?

Edit: Candesartan is mainly used to lower blood pressure.

A couple of weeks . I'd increased my dose three times. I increased it every 2 weeks as it wasn't working. I can't remember the final dose. I only had the duzziness with the highest dose.I'm now on antoegepant which is excellent.

Yeah I'm the same, I don't really have food triggers but skipping meals will trigger an attack.

Thank you. I've been slowly upping the dose for over 6 months, I feel sick at the thought that I have wasted all this time if I get to the therapeutic dose and can't tolerate it!

Glad something else is working for you x

I think there are people who can't tolerate it unfortunately, its possible I will fail it as well but I'll give it a go. I have to go in every week or so for the first while to have my bloods taken and blood pressure checked in case it gets too low as it is already normal.

Does your cranial Osteopath crack your neck? I did see an osteopath for a while but I got cold feet about the neck cracking, he was good though.

I've been using sumatriptan for about 20 years now, I think I have tried all the triptans at some point or another. My preferred one is eletriptan but I think it can only be prescribed by a neurologist.

My issue is that my migraines are so frequent that I need a preventative, not just an abortive medication as usually you need to limit your triptan use to a maximum of 12 a month and my migraines can be up to 20 days a month at worst.

I'm not sure, they used to give out triptans like sweets but I think these days they really limit them and people get far fewer as over use can make migraines worse.

@Headachesfromhell and @Noshadelamp Sorry to hear about the issues you are having, I am concerned about this as my blood pressure isn't at all high so it's possible this medication won't work out for me either.

I am going to collect it on Friday but I have a busy weekend so do you think it would be better to wait until sunday evening to take my first dose as I have a quiet day at home on the Monday? Just in case it does cause dizziness.

They definitely do limit triptans. I have frovatriptan for menstrual migraine and sumatriptan for random migraine. They have rejected my order for both at the same time twice now and told me I don't need both. I think it's no more than 10 days of triptan use a month.
I don't think I would do well with Candesartan. I already have low blood pressure and I think that's why propranolol made me feel so sluggish.

What dose are you starting on? I've only experienced low blood pressure symptoms since reaching 12mg.
I didn't feel any side effects at all until 6mg, and then it was indigestion, digestive symptoms and heart palpitations when I went up stairs.

Also, any side effects only started a few days after increasing the dose.

I think my low blood pressure problems at the moment is because I went from 8mg to 14mg too quickly and didn't give a chance for my body to get used to each new dose.

But at the same time my migraines were increasing so I wanted to get up to 16mg.

I hope this makes sense, I'm aware I've said a lot on this thread and my numbers might not always be the same, it's hard to remember but I'm trying to be as accurate as possible.

@DollydaydreamTheThird Yeah I have Eletriptan as my regular triptan and sumatriptan as a back up as they target different receptors. I always has issues with the prescription as its rare to have two different triptans issues. It was prescribed by a neurologist though so its usually fine.

@Noshadelamp I'm starting at 4mg then going up to 8mg and so on. I will try not to rush it and see how it goes. I got bad digestive issues on propranolol as well. I guess I just have to try and see, I hope you found something to help with your migraines.

@silkbook I can't take triptans, was on then years ago but have another neurological condition that affects my neck and triptans make it worse.
I've read such good things about candesartan and they looked like they were working initially at very low doses (2-6mg), until they weren't, this my rush to increase the dose.

Really hope it helps you and anyone else on this thread.

@silkbook I know everyone is different but hopefully you won't get any blood pressure problems on 4mg.

Edited to add, the side effects only lasted a week or two, then my stomach was fine until I increased the dose again.

No neck cracking- cranial osteopathy is very gentle. He hardly seems to do anything, just hold my head and neck. I’m very lucky it has worked for me as my neurologist had run out of meds to try and I’d been in a migraine state for 4 months with the odd good day.

Hi, I'd check with a pharmacist first. I think I went up 2mg at a time rather than doubling it-that seems a big jump. I'm fine now as on atoegepant. I'd wait to start it when you know you don't have to drive etc the next day.

I think I started on 2mg.

Yes I think it will be next on my list. Thanks for the advice
Out of interest has anyone taken progesterone period stopping medications before?
I've realised that yet again I'm going to be on my period while I'm on holiday. I'm considering getting some of the tablets to delay period. I'm well aware that some of them can make migraine worse. Has anyone got any success stories with taking them and if so which brand name?
I stopped hormonal contraception in my late twenties so I'm a bit scared.

I take a very similar drug and don't have to worry about potassium in food. Actually, I've had my potassium go to low a couple of times.

Have you had a consultation with a dietician? It could be something you are eating.

Even if you have been eating something for years, it can still turn on you.

There are so many processed foods available, with added chemicals, which may be harmless to most, but not to some people. Bacon and cheese are not always thought of as processed, but they are. Ready meals have all sorts of things in them to make us like them.

It is sometimes a good idea to try eating only food that is fresh, grown here, and with no preservatives. If you like yoghurt, make sure it has cultures in it. Not all of them do. They help get rid of all the free radicals in your gut.

My carer - I have CIDP, inflammatory neuropathies, which is inflammation of the central nervous system - is Hungarian. He came when Francis was diagnosed last year with cancer. He loves cooking and I haven't had a ready meal or processed food since last August, and it has made a difference. I also suffer from gastric and intestinal bleeding, and am in remission from polymyalgia rheumatica - and having only fresh food has made a difference.

It is worth a try.

How is everyone getting on? I'm now on candesartan but worried its been making me feel tired and I'm only on 4mg to start with. Supposed to start 8 this week.
I am also wondering if to try cranial oesteo.

This is what I'm wondering - I've tried 4 things so far. I think candesatan was the last one to try. Although I'm presuming if I went back there would be more they just haven't suggested yet...
I know someon who is a CO so thinking about booking an appt.

i have to avoid grapefruit but havent had ill effects from Candesartan for bp
i have just read the side effects on kidneys which unbeliavably i had never looked at before

Exactly the same for me

Personally for me, no

It was awful for me unfortunately and my migraines became much worse on it. Am now getting Botox, no improvement yet there either.

I know this is an old thread but I take candesartan for high BP and was interested to read about the effects on kidneys. I've just had a load of blood tests for the first time since I started it in 2022 and I know my GP won't be happy with my creatinine. It is monitored because I am on slow release ibuprofen and if it creeps up she always blames that, but maybe the candesartan is also a risk factor...