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betablockers for a teenager suffering from frequent migraines
My doctor has prescribed betablockers for my 17 year old daughter who suffers from frequent migraines. Panadol, Aspirin, Brufen, ... don't help. He prescribed Emcomcor Tab Minor (2.5 mg), bisoprolof being the active ingredient. I read the side effects, and I am not really happy giving this to my daughter (we are very much into alternative medicine). Unfortunately, my daughter does not want to try acupuncture, nor is she crazy about doing lots of medical exams. Does anyone have experience with this type of betablockers for migraines? Thanks for any replies.
No experience on beta blockers. But if she is suffering from frequent headaches, your GP might want to refer her for a brain scan as a precaution.
I've no experience with beta blockers but have a friend who also suffers with migraines. She has recently taken up Tai Chi having heard it can help. After her first session she had a migraine but has now been doing it for over a month and has not had a migraine since after first session. It might be worth a try for your daughter. If you are really concerned about her medication ask the doctor for more information as to why he prescribed them and tell him your concerns about the side effects.
That is one of many drugs used, among others, for migraine. I don't know why we need 50 types! Sorry, no experience. But I know someone who was taking something or another and then managed to switch to paracetamol and sometimes aspirin. That helped sufficiently, but he had to take them AS SOON AS he felt that an episode WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. If he waited until it actually started there was no benefit. You can try that, it is about as harmless as a a drug can get.
One last thing, he was taking the full not a reduced dose, and that would depend on your daughter's age.
If you ever actually worked for the Pharma industry you would know they make very little of their profits in Western Europe due to the price constraints by the government. Therefore the doctors have no benefit or gain to give one medication or not. For your daughter maybe that one is the best, but you won't try and as a result your daughter suffers not you. It sounds like you not her are into alternative medicine and soon she will be 18 and can decide. There also are anti-depressants used for migraines, but sure you'd hate that too. Frequent migraines should be checked with a Head CT and neurologist before treatment anyhow as a GP is not a specialist and can easily miss an underlying issue. Since 3 is VERY RARE and no your divorce cannot have the effect of causing migraines. Stress Management, kine therapy (special message at the base of the neck), trigger management have all helped me a lot with occasional migraines. The massage option is gaining massive popularity as is injections of botox in some areas to help relieve it. You should really see a specialist.
No experience of beta blockers for migraine. But I do take beta blockers myself and I am certainly not zombie like. I do feel if your daughter has had migraines for so long, it is time to look for the cause. And no I do not think it is your divorce.
I can understand your daughter not wishing to have a lot of tests, but if she is having genuine migraines, the pain will be so bad that a ct scan would be nothing compared to the migraine.
Hi ClaireDD.
Many years ago, I was prescribed beta blockers for the treatment of my migraines. I didn't particularly find them to be very effective to be honest and my circulation became so bad, my fingers and toes were always blue! That is just my personal experience though.
My main reason for writing though is to ask whether your GP has mentioned any medication *specific* for migraines. Following advice from two fellow migraine sufferers, I now take Sumatriptan and find it extremely effective. It has been a life saver when it comes to migraine attacks. I know you stipulate a preference for alternative medicine, but it may well at least be worth discussing Sumatriptan with your GP.
I hope in any case that you find a treatment that works.
Best wishes.
Hi if you aren't happy why not find a more holistic doctor there are plenty who specialise in homeopathy etc, I'm sure if you ask on her and state an area your happy to travel to someone will know one. Also something like sacral cranial osteopathy might help her. Very gentle not a violent therapy.
I presume you've kept food diaries etc to see if it's linked to diet had her eyes tested so on so forth.
I used to get bad headaches when tired as a teen but they disappeared..
There are some very good treatments now my frond takes something as her migraine comes on and swears it has saved her life.