Is anyone on medication for migraines to prevent them ?

[Mortigua]

Had a GP (call ) appointment and they offered something that prevents migraines but it causes weight gain (so I said no-it was the first side effect listed and I have been struggling with my weight a while but finally getting somewhere) then they offered beta blockers but warned they would make me tired and slow me down exercise wise.
Is anyone on anything that doesn’t cause awful side effects ? I am so fed yo with having migraines half of my life but I think better to carry on with treating them than have side effects that make me feel worse. I wonder if it’s worth me trying anything else?

I have been so disappointed with my non-weight loss on topiramate

However yes, there are lots of options and if one doesn't suit you, another prob will. I can't have propranolol, didn't tolerate amitriptylline but topiramate (despite my sadness about the lack of promised weight loss) has been great for me. I do have some side effects but my migraine was so horrific I have found a good compromise.

My consultant also told me he was on propranolol at really high doses - so there are lots of us about.

I'd also say lifestyle changes have been really key for me, I always now know when I have a migraine what the trigger was.

Oh no, I bet I wouldn’t lose either but would be happy with no gain if it worked (but obviously weight loss would be lovely as I am working on that anyway and it gets harder and harder!)
I had my first migraine at a funeral aged about 20 ish but had them so so rarely till the last five years or so and it’s hormones maybe for trigger but also sun light /fluorescent lights), sleep disturbance , stress (I think) and also sweeteners for me . Can avoid some better than others!

It can take a good while to find something that works and that you can tolerate the side effects of. I've tried pretty much everything, currently on gabapentin, have botox and Ajovy injections (pay privately for ajovy), the combo seems to be working quite well at the moment.

Not heard of those injections either ! I feel like I could do with another GP consultation after this thread ! I have been doing lots of reading up and see that the sleep paralysis I get seems to be linked to migraines , also some odd visual stuff I had put down to stress and tiredness too

I forgot to say that while I am waiting for my next apt I have signed up to the curable app. They do a free trial but I’ve paid for it. I am also having cbt from next week as the GP thought mine were stress related.

I had a flare up over two years ago and it took nearly a year of trying different drugs/tests to get a solution. My neurologist suggested increasing amitriptylene which I did to 35mg and it changed my life.

I have stopped taking them since the beginning of this year as I'm currently on beta blockers for a different heart condition and they have not returned as yet!

Thanks both , I will look that app up too. I think I get tension headaches as well as migraines perhaps as always get one in more normal times when I have a weekly meeting at work that seems to trigger them. But could also be that stress triggers migraines, hard to tell at times .
Good to know the beta blockers can work too!

Have you tried Magnesium OP, I read that the supplement can be beneficial for migraines suffers.

Thanks - had forgotten but Yes I have magnesium although haven’t been very consistent. I will take it more - that would be ideal as so easy side effect etc wise!

I've suffered with migraines on and off since I was 12 (now 46) and have tried a few different things since they got really bad - roughly 12 years ago.
I started on Propranolol. This did seem to help at first. However, around that time I began to suffer from a weird sleep disorder, similar to night terrors in children. I'd dream I was being chased or attacked and I'd leap from the bed in a panic and try to 'escape', pulling the curtains, even trying to open the window (our bedroom is on the third floor!) My poor DH was constantly having to put the light on to calm me down. Once I grabbed my bedside lamp and smashed it onto the floor. At this point I became scared that I might hurt him or myself and saw the GP again. She referred me to a Neurologist who decided that the migraines and sleep disorder were linked and that I should stay on the Propranolol because they were effective, but in addition take Amitriptyline at night to basically knock me out and stop me sleep walking .
I didn't really tolerate Amitriptyline very well and couldn't progress beyond a low dose but they did help somewhat with sleeping. Made me feel like a zombie for hours the next morning though on anything higher than the lowest dose. I can't really comment on their effectiveness towards the migraines sadly, as I was still on the beta blocker at the same time. I came off Ami about a year ago as the night terrors seemed to have settled.
As for the weight gain aspect - I did gain quite a bit of weight over the time I was on the two meds. Almost two stone. However, that is over roughly a decade, going from my 30s to 40s, completed a degree (lots of sitting at a desk, reading etc) reduced hours at work. so, the meds may have contributed, but probably only a little.
Finally, since March I have gone onto Topiramate. The previous few months had been horrific for migraines and the beta blockers just didn't seem to be working anymore. One of my main triggers is weather changes (eg air pressure) and early part of the year seemed quite bad for it.
Still too soon to comment really on effectiveness for migraines. Fingers crossed though.
Now, weight loss... Like you I was excited by the possibility of weight loss as a side-effect ( would make a change!) Well almost immediately I lost my appetite. It was really strange. I'd have a lovely meal in front of me and just not fancy it at all. Just pick at it and then push it away.. unheard of for me! (very greedy normally! )
I'm not overweight at all but when we went into lockdown I got into a panic about how unfit I'd got and worried I;d struggle to breathe if I caught corona so I started walking and doing online workouts. I've lost about 9 pounds. My appetite has stabilized now that i've got used to the Topiramate but I still don't feel ravenous like I used to. Maybe that's how it helps with weight loss - it helps to control your appetite rather than magically losing weight for you (sadly!)
Sorry this was so long!

Unusually, I take Naramig (a Triptan) every night, and an extra one of a migraine does happen. Also take bisoprolol (beta blocker) Neurologist agreed to the daily triptans after I'd tried everything else. They help alot.

Sorry to jump on your thread but I think I'm starting to get mirgrines and just wondered what yours is like? Mine started end of last year, they literally knock me of my feet, I can't move without being physically sick, they seem to get worse each time, when they first started I was never sick now I always am. The pain in unbearable I've had three children with no pain relief but when I get these headaches I want to ring 999 and beg for help 😩I need to ring the docs ASAP. Any advice on helping before the next one hits would be amazing.

Allthebears I get sleep paralysis which I bet is linked to my migraines ! I tend to get it when stressed and go through periods where it’s really frequent , it’s horrible and really makes me scared to sleep at times. I would love a magic cure for weight loss but that sounds good in a way apart from the not wanting to eat at all bit, how depressing and I know what you mean as when I first go on ssris (been on and off them a fair bit) I get that same thing!
Hellvelyn It’s really good you’ve found the thing that works , must be difficult taking triptans every night, they always make me feel pretty odd but do shift the migraine generally.
Singlemum31 I think you should definitely ring the dr about it as it’s new for you. For me I get wiggly lines in front of my eyes for around 40 mins or so sometimes as a warning but others it gets triggered by me looking at light without sunglasses on or something and just starts as pain and nausea often behind one eye that gets much worse if I can’t get on top of it quickly . The thing that made me realise these ones were migraines was no pain relief works .