Has propranolol helped any of you? I got diagnosed with vestibular migraine a few days ago and just started 60mg of propranolol. How long until your symptoms improved?
1 Like
Welcome.
Did you search the site? Take a look at (and consider contributing to a topic on) #medication:beta-blockers
Good luck with the Prop.
1 Like
i tried Propranolol for a bit, around 4 weeks, it had no positive effect on anything but everyone is different. it actually caused some negative side effects. They started me on nortriptyline and is seemingly 30-40 percent better on average. Good luck.
2 Likes
Propranololās a slow worker. Four monthsā might have given you good results. Also itās very dose dependent. There is an actual kg/mg ratio equation @getbetter will remember it exactly. I slips my mind at this moment. Many people give up on it too soon or because they never reached a Sufficiently high dose to achieve any success. I found it stopped my attacks dead 100% from the start. I went over three years before another full on attack although it took eight months to even intermittently stop the 24/7 dizziness. To date so far no negative side effects and certainly no increased symptoms on titration.
3 Likes
Iām glad it worked for you, and also comforting to know Iām not the only one who experiences their dizziness 24/7. However the propranolol was causing some mild Nystigmus occasionally which freaked me out too much to continue taking it.
1 Like
This is more likely your symptoms not being under control rather than the Prop.
I switched from Prop to Ami and my eye issues went away. However existed before I took Propanolol.
2 Likes
With such things one can never say āneverā For sure but I think it most unlikely the Propranolol was the cause. Propranolol often cases problems such as low BP therefore fainting, breathlessness/tight chest/trouble breathing (asthmatics cant usually take beta blockers) and fatigue, depression even. It can have an adverse effect on diabetics. It does however have an excellent reputation for controlling photophobia stemming from migraine. Iād suspect your nystagmus was probably going to happen anyway. Itās a common enough MAV symptom unfortunately. And pretty horrible too I agree so can understand you quitting. A shame really because, like Amitriptyline, it is generally a successful preventative drug for MAV.
1 Like
How long until you saw positive results?
Obviously It was many months before I realised I hadnāt had another vertigo attack. In the year before starting meds I must have had maybe eight full on eight days vertigo attacks in bed unable to stand. I expect it was 12 months before the 24/7 dizziness stopped. Other symptoms very gradually reduced.
To anybody just starting it Iād say allow 2 months at least Before you expect to notice some minor improvements. Also to note itās a drug you need to really hit maximum dose with before seeing results and starting the time clock towards the 2 months. In addition dosage is bodyweight dependent with Propranolol. Anything up to 240mg is in regular use for prevention. In some countries up to 360mg is offered. If nothing positive happens could be you have yet to reach high enough dose. It will work but you do need some patience. More patience than people these instant computerised days might deem possible. MAVās chronic and persistent. I just read on another thread @turnitaround writes itās atypical for it to stop in under three years.
1 Like
I see, glad it worked out for you!
And yeah I saw about the 3 years. That sounds horrible, Iāve had this for 10 months.
And Iāve had it for 16 years last month.
That sounds horrible.
Episodic not so bad. It clears between. Chronic (5 years) it dominates oneās life. With the female of the species hormones have a lot fir which to answer, not that they do.
Onanandon03,
Did you ever take Propanolol episodically? Meaning can it work on the first day? Iāve been steady on Ami 15 and Klonopin .25 but then went and tried to get off meds because Iām not able to lose weight anymore. And am now almost unable to function. But my BP is a little high when Iām heavy so thought I might try Prop to manage the VM. Did at really work right off the bat for you?
Going off Topic here but no. Iāve not taken it as an abortive. I think itās unlikely to work on the first day. It took eight months to calm the constant rotary vertigo. After taking it more than five years I think I can safely say itās better for migraine headache pain than for the vestibular stuff. Some people with classic migraine find it stops their pain from the first dose but all take it as a preventative not abortive. Btw itās so poor at reducing BP here in the U.K. itās no longer prescribed. Itās main use is an a preventative.
1 Like
Thanks O.