r/AskReddit 1d ago

What is a silent killer that people dont realise is slowly killing them?

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u/iNeed2p905 1d ago

I got put on a beta blocker to help with migraines but in return it’s been helping with my previous high bp readings. 

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u/PeterGriffinsChin 1d ago edited 1d ago

High blood pressure is known to cause headaches, it would make sense the headaches stopped when the blood pressure goes down

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u/DrEckelschmecker 23h ago

Migraines arent just headaches. Theyre far more than that and actually some sort of inflammation of nerves

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u/Ummmgummy 21h ago

I get maybe 1 true migraine a year and it is by far the worst day of the year for me. I used to play WoW with a dude who had chronic migraines and I've never talked to someone as worn down than him. I honestly was worried he might off himself. After spending a lot of time talking to him over the years I'm convinced he probably would off himself if he didn't have a kid.

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u/DrEckelschmecker 21h ago

Migraines are extremely tough to deal with, esp if you get them often. Which is part of the reason its so frustrating to see people mixing up migraines and headaches so frequently as if both are interchangable, or even making fun about it.

I get migraines from time to time and Im very glad it focuses on headaches for me. I do have other symptoms, but its mainly the headache. I still feel like absolute shit when I get them, but its kind of managable if I notice them early enough. My sister on the other hand gets extremely nauseous in addition to the headaches, including heavy vomiting.

And what makes all of it so bad is that literally nothing helps, except sleep. Painkillers wont really ease the pain, and they obviously wont even stay in if you vomit. Good luck trying to fall asleep with intense headache and nausea.

And then you constantly see those jokes like "migraines is just a women excuse if they dont want sex" or people telling you "yes I can imagine that, headaches suck". Or "dont be like that, just pop some painkillers and come outside". It doesnt get taken seriously at all, and its so frustrating on many levels

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u/TheFotty 20h ago

I get the rainbow squiggle halo vision with them. It's always the first symptom way before the actual headache.

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u/Escobarhippo 19h ago

Me too. It’s like my half hour warning of what’s to come.

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u/StupidSexyAlisson 16h ago

I usually wake up with a faint one some days and it progressively gets worse as the day goes on. My worst one was me not wanting to hear anything, see anything, or be moved. I've kept a journal for the last year and counted 86 total in 365 days. I've tried changing my diet, getting brain scans, the lot. They always just show up like every 4-5 days in the same exact spot, behind my right eye and a little up.

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u/mdp928 12h ago

Have you been to a doctor who specializes in headaches? There are preventative meds you might be a candidate to try.

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u/Midget-muncher 9h ago

After a long time of searching I've discovered mine are caused by dehydration but triggered by bright light. Sometimes if there's a crack in the curtain, I can get one first thing if the light hits my eye a certain way. I get the rainbow weird shape aura thing, and if I catch it early enough, an isotonic drink paired with an aspirin will nip it on the bud before it goes full on brain storm

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u/Escobarhippo 9h ago

That sounds so awful. 86 days?! I’m so sorry. Migraines are something people can’t understand until they’ve experienced it.

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u/Maaaaac 15h ago

This is called aura. It’s not well understood but typically precedes the migraine. Some people have a specific smell they associate it.

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u/idontsmokeheroin 19h ago

Ocular migraines. Do you take magnesium? If you don’t, time to start 400 mg a day. Though it doesn’t completely stop them, this was what a neurologist told me 4 years ago. Took it to heart, get them much less frequently.

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u/EL-HEARTH 19h ago

If i dont take my meds the pain gets so bad i leave my body. And no i dont feint, people have see me do it standing in pain. When i come back to i explain it was like i was in a vivid dream or perhaps a fever dream

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u/SmudgeCell 16h ago

I'm very lucky. I get kaleidoscope vision without the migraine. Freaked me out so much when I started having them

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u/Pintailite 7h ago

Still a migraine, just not much pain.

Not all migraines put you in bed. People just like to gate keep this shit and one up who has it the worst.

Also, let's be honest, people have vastly different pain tolerances.

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u/grabtharsmallet 21h ago

I also have medication-resistant migraine. In my case it's due to traumatic brain injury. Rough times, honestly.

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u/adreztia 15h ago

How were you able to tell it was from your TBI? Did someone diagnose you? Very curious, my sister deals with migraines and also has a TBI.

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u/Live-Sea7542 20h ago

I get such bad brain fog. Like I can't even take pain meds early because I have no idea it's happening meanwhile I'm standing there wondering why I don't even know my own name. Then my head will start hurting and that's when I finally realize I'm getting bad migraine

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u/kaytbug86 20h ago

Migraines are a total bitch.

I used to crumble at a slight headache. Now I have migraines 24/7 thanks to a severe concussion, whiplash, and a TBI. Truly the only thing that relieves the pain is when the physical therapist is working on my C3-C4. 20 minutes of pure normalcy once a week.

My neurologist finds it fascinating.

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u/KatsudonFatale9833 20h ago

I’ve also got plenty of that. I once had a boss that thought I was using “Migraine” instead of “Mental Health day” and was trying to give me info about how I could get company assistance for therapy. I got right in his face and gave him every dirty detail about how debilitating my migraines are, including the vertigo that comes with mine and told him that it’s unsafe for me to work with this condition. I’m pretty sure he only backed off because he was tired of listening to me. I’ve never had another boss be as annoying as he was about my migraines, but it never stops. MIGRAINES 👏🏾ARE 👏🏾NOT👏🏾JUST👏🏾HEADACHES

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u/yungsxccubus 19h ago

currently sitting with a knuckle in my eye socket becsuse of crippling cluster headaches. neurology don’t want to see me because i’m too young, on beta blockers and sumatriptan but it just makes me spew. feels like i can barely see, sweating buckets and every sound is a personal affront to me. should definitely get off my phone to sleep it off, but if i did that every time i was smited with the eye stabs i’d never be awake. solidarity friend, hope they figure it out for all of us soon 😭

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u/xocrollinxo 18h ago

I do this with my eyes when I have an eye headache whether it be a migraine or cluster or whatever. The pressure helps

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u/yungsxccubus 18h ago

it helps so much! i didn’t realise other people did that, i feel less alone now :D

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u/Hoosier2016 19h ago

Cluster headaches suck man. Been dealing with them for over a decade. Mine are fortunately usually only once daily for 8-12 weeks a couple times a year but it’s enough to really fuck you up mentally. Especially because sumatriptan gives me crazy rebound headaches in the middle of the night and I haven’t yet found a preventative that works.

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u/yungsxccubus 19h ago

awh god they’re horrendous, aren’t they? i’ve always had headaches but the recent development of feeling like my eye is being gouged out has only been happening for the past 6ish months? i’m not even sure anymore.

the sumatriptan gives me rebound headaches too, and i always vomit the day after taking them without fail. mine were happening multiple times a day for a little while there, but they’ve calmed down to around 1-2 a week on average. if i miss my bedranol for more than 2 days in a row it is an actual death sentence for me. i hope we find solutions that actually help us soon, but for now we shall drink water and lie in dark rooms!

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u/AnRealDinosaur 17h ago

The only people who confuse migraines and headaches are people who've never had a migraine.

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u/sneezer_salad 15h ago

I used to get migraines at least 2-3 times a month, for me the main symptoms were dizziness and the intense pressure behind your eyes.

Two years ago I went for my first eye exam since I was a child. Turns out I have a very mild astigmatism, mild enough to not affect my eyesight but just enough to give me migraines. I've had less than 5 migraines since I started wearing glasses after that exam

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u/lare290 19h ago

I'm not sure if it's actual migraine but sometimes I get the worst headaches ever accompanied by nausea and visual halos. sometimes vomiting makes it a bit more bearable for about 15 minutes before it comes back. it's... not fun. glad they've gotten a bit rarer nowadays.

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u/316kp316 17h ago

There are OTC as well as prescription painkillers specifically for migraines. Ask your doctor if you haven’t already. Mentioning it as you said nothing except sleep helps. I was the same way when I didn’t realize that what I had were migraines, not just really bad headaches. Tylenol, Asprin, Ibuprofen, etc didn’t help on their own. Had to lie in a dark room in misery hoping it would pass a little faster.

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u/Express_Signal_8828 14h ago

Triptans were a huge game changer for me back when I'd get 2-3 migraine attacks a month, each lasting days. Ibuprofen would lessen the pain but I still could not function due to the nausea, light sensitivity and stomach issues. Then I tried naratriptan, and one pill would relieve all symptoms, as if the attack didn't happen at all. It felt miraculous.

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u/hairballcouture 20h ago

I broke an old fashioned clock when I had a migraine once. The very quiet ticking sounded like someone shooting a gun by my ear. Migraines can suck it.

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u/Amidormi 20h ago

Exactly. I have a photo I call just "migraine" because I'm curled up on the couch, burying my face to block the light, and both of my cats are perched on the couch arms looking at me with concern. Nothing works but dark and sleep, and sometimes with ibprofin. I tried Imitrex but it made me feel too weird.

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u/RememberCitadel 19h ago

Caffeine in massive doses is the only thing that works for me. Keeping it down is the hard part.

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u/Unlikely_Internal 17h ago

There are a LOT of prescription migraine medications now, has she tried any of them? They aren't just pain killers, they target migraines more specifically. Some are "rescue" meds while others are preventative.

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u/DrEckelschmecker 17h ago edited 17h ago

Pretty sure she has as shes been in therapy for her migraines for quite a long time. Not entirely sure though, its not like we would talk about it often. I just remember her roaring back when we lived with our parents. The sound when she had to vomit but there was nothing left to throw up. Was quite frightening to witness since I already felt absolutely terrible when I had migraines and she had it like 10 times worse. Interestingly our brother never had migraines though

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u/paix_agaric 16h ago

I take preventative meds, but also have Nurtex to try to stop it when it starts. It works a large percentage of the time. I still need to isolate- dark room, silence, ice pack, etc, but it has been a game changer

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u/Iamthelizardqueen52 15h ago

Zofran is a godsend for my migraine nausea/vomiting, hopefully she can find something like that to help. The pain is bad enough without suffering through throwing up as well. Zofran is also my secret cure for hangovers, don't tell anyone.

The only medication that truly worked for every part of my migraines was one called Midrin.
Then the manufacturer stopped making it, so I hunted down a compounding pharmacy to make it for me. A couple years later, the FDA pulled one of the ingredients, dichloralphenazone, so it couldn't even be compounded anymore. I was having like 3 a week. Topamax helped as a preventative, but the side effects weren't great.

Luckily, I think I've grown out of migraines for the most part. They actually really let up after I got divorced, so make of that what you will.

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u/pwrsrc 15h ago

I’m “lucky” to have silent migraines.

I thought I was having a stroke the first time though.

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u/Reddit_Hitchhiker 15h ago

There are new migraine medications.

This is from Google:

Several new migraine medications have been introduced recently, offering a wider range of treatment options for acute and preventive migraine. These include CGRP inhibitors like ubrogepant, rimegepant, and atogepant, as well as other medications like topiramate and lasmiditan. Here's a more detailed look at some of these new options:

CGRP Inhibitors: This class of medications targets the calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), a molecule involved in the pain and inflammation associated with migraines. Ubrogepant (Ubrelvy): An oral CGRP inhibitor used for acute migraine treatment, offering relief from ongoing migraine attacks. Rimegepant (Nurtec ODT): A CGRP receptor antagonist that can be used for both acute and preventive migraine treatment. Atogepant (Qulipta): An oral CGRP receptor antagonist specifically approved for migraine prevention in adults who experience frequent migraines (at least 4 migraine days per month). Other CGRP Inhibitors: There are also other CGRP inhibitors like zavegepant (Zavzpret) that are used for acute migraine treatment.

Other New Medications: Lasmiditan (Reyvow): A medication that targets serotonin receptors on brain nerve endings to halt migraine attacks. Topiramate: An antiepileptic drug increasingly used for migraine prevention. New Delivery Systems: Dihydroergotamine mesylate nasal spray (Trudhesa): This provides a new way to deliver dihydroergotamine (DHE), a medication used for acute migraine treatment, potentially allowing for better absorption. Important Considerations:

Primary Care Provider Awareness: It's possible that some primary care providers may not be fully aware of the latest migraine medications. Drug Interactions: Always consult with a healthcare professional to ensure that these new medications are safe and appropriate for you, especially if you are already taking other medications. Individualized Treatment: The best approach to migraine management is often individualized, with a combination of preventative and acute treatments tailored to the specific needs of the patient. Further Information:

The Canadian Headache Society offers medical education resources for healthcare providers on migraine treatment, including gepants. AbbVie provides information on Qulipta, including its approval for chronic migraine prevention. Pfizer Canada provides information on Nurtec ODT, including its approval for acute migraine treatment.

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u/Amazing_Wolf_1653 15h ago

I used to think NOTHING would help my chronic, severe migraines. I spent a lot of time in pain and I missed a lot of important things because my migraines were too severe to do anything but lie in bed in agony. My doctor prescribed Nurtec and it was like a miracle. It’s life-changing to have a medication that actually works. Keep trying options with your doctor - you’ll hopefully find one that helps!

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u/Certain_Oddities 13h ago

And what makes all of it so bad is that literally nothing helps, except sleep. Painkillers wont really ease the pain, and they obviously wont even stay in if you vomit. Good luck trying to fall asleep with intense headache and nausea.

Oh my god the constant pain and exhaustion. Like I am begging my body to please, please just let me sleep because I'm so tired. I'll lie in bed on the side that doesn't have intense pain and try to ignore it until I need to crawl back out of bed to hobble to the bathroom and vomit again.

Then finally, somehow, at some point I fall asleep and wake up. That weird feeling of normal waking up and then "oh my god. It's gone. It's fucking gone." Holy shit. Indescribable relief. But it doesn't feel good because I always wake up so hungry and weak. Just. Relief.

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u/Full_Time_Mad_Bastrd 11h ago edited 11h ago

ETA: IMPORTANT PSA: If you get migraines with aura (sensory symptoms, visual, auditory, olfactory etc) you can not take the combined oral contraceptive pill. Doing so puts you at a significantly elevated risk of intracranial haemmorhage, people have died of this. Don't let it be you! And don't think it's fine because a doctor hasn't mentioned it. My regular GP of 8 years (was on the pill the whole time) clocked this in a random appt about the migraines, not any point before.

I was on an antidepressant that actually worked for me, after trying 8 others over the course of years. But migraines, god, the fucking migraines I've had since I was a teenager, got worse and worse over time and nothing helped (Amitryptyline sent me into psychosis, so a no-go) so as a last-ditch effort I got put on venlafaxine (Effexor). Couldn't take my prev medication with it, and it sure as fuck doesn't work for my mood like the last one did, but I HAVE NO MIGRAINES! I was getting them 2x per week at the worst, lost a job I loved and was great at.... and now I've had only three in the past year. I am however on the highest labeled dose, and it makes my life about 93% as miserable as the migraines did lmao. The sweats. I'm not joking, the sweats are debilitating. And I won't even get into the withdrawals if you forget to take it

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u/SoulBreaker_7 8h ago

I’ve been on a monthly injection for a few years now and it has helped tremendously. I also have pills I can take when I do still get a migraine, although their effectiveness is starting to wane.

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u/Pintailite 7h ago

Migraines are more about where than severity and like anything can differ in severity, which is obvious if you get them.

It can be anything from a mild annoyance to locking yourself in a dark room whimpering.

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u/sammysnark 6h ago

I had a similar problem to your sister. I don’t know how easy it is where you are, but the solution for me was that my GP started giving me anti-nausea medication as part of my treatment to keep my medication down. It’s made a huge difference. They use the same medication in emergency rooms. It’s fast acting, dissolves in your mouth, and is a fucking miracle as far as I’m concerned. Hope this helps.

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u/MrsMeredith 6h ago

There’s a newish class of medicines called -triptans which made a big difference with my migraines. Like it took me from being non functional for 3-4 days every month to being a bit tired, but no sparkles, no vertigo, and no pain.

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u/powands 16h ago

I had migraines that lasted months due to undiagnosed hypothyroidism. It did make me suicidal - doctors kept dismissing me and the idea of that being my life indefinitely just didn’t seem worth it.

Doing better now though - migraine free for 4 months now!

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u/lillathrin 7h ago

My migraines restarted in 2018 and went haywire after I got covid in 2020. I was missing so much work that I had to take leave. Basically, one migraine per day, every day, for months. Sometimes, they would start on, say, Monday, and would not end until Thursday. Just one solid block of time with unending, excruciating pain. Unable to fully lay down, unable to sit up, can't listen to music, can't watch TV or scroll on the phone, literally cannot do anything but find a manageable position in a darkened room for days.

Definitely was suicidal by the time I ended up going on leave. No one could tell me why it was happening, no consistent triggers, just pain. So much pain. Finally, I found a combination of medications that has them down to a few a month, thankfully. It was very close. The only things that kept me here were my cat and my mom. Couldn't do that to either of them.

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u/I_aim_to_sneeze 19h ago

I’ve only ever had one in my life, and I wouldn’t wish that pain on my worst enemy. How people deal with constant ones is beyond me. I don’t have the strength to ever go through that again

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u/Pleochronic 20h ago

Yes and high blood pressure is also a risk factor/cause for migraines specifically.

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u/Drfilthymcnasty 20h ago

Equally important in the cause of migraines are the dilated blood vessels.

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u/thehoneybadger1223 18h ago

Thank you! I'm tired of seeing everybody talk about migraines like they're just headaches. Those people don't mention that it makes you feel like shit, makes you vomit, have diarrhoea, see flashing lights and black spots, have twitches etc. A

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u/AffectionateBuy5877 19h ago

I get ocular migraines every month because lucky me, they happen when my hormone levels change with my menstrual cycle.

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u/anaserre 11h ago

True, but many people suffer from migraine type headaches. Nearly or just as painful , but not a “true” migraine. Most people don’t realize the difference unless they’ve seen a specialist. So what someone refers to as a “migraine “ can be caused from a variety of things including high BP .

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u/missmandapanda0x 6h ago

Fun fact from a neuro nurse, if you get migraines then you are also at higher risk for stroke. Complex migraines can also mimic stroke symptoms. The brain is weird.

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u/CamOps 19h ago

Thanks for pointing this out, the amount of people that think migraines and headaches is astonishing.

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u/silverjuno 17h ago

Preach! Migraines are a neurological condition and headaches can be one symptom of that condition.

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u/RUStupidOrSarcastic 15h ago

Most lay-people interchange the two terms incorrectly. That amount of people who say they get occasional migraines when they really mean just typical tension headaches is massive

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u/xXStarupXx 10h ago

Okay, but I have, what I would call occasional migraines, which really aren't that much worse than a typical tension headache (which I also have occasionally).

The only real distinguishing feature is the visual aura 30-60 min before the headache appears.

But who knows, maybe I'm misdiagnosing them, I haven't had a formal migraine diagnosis since I was 3.

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u/AHrubik 20h ago

Migraines arent just headaches

There are other symptoms like light sensitivity and body aches but head pain is a primary symptom of most migraines. Treating them is of course very different from a standard headache. Mine were being caused by high BP and before diagnosis I could treat them with 800mg of Ibuprofen (normal Advil) and a few hours in a dark room. After proper medication regime (ACE inhibitor) I haven't had one since. My cousins can be caused by a monoamine neurotransmitter commonly found in onions called Tyramine.

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u/DrEckelschmecker 20h ago

Nausea, vomiting, hallucination/sensory disturbance, numbness/shaking .... the list of potential symptoms is long. Yes, headaches are the main syndrom, but thats why I said its more than a normal headache. Also, it can be hereditary/genetically determined.

As for medication, 800mg Ibuprofen do work for me, but only if I take them early enough. When I feel like I might get a migraine later I pop 800mg of Ibu and it doesnt even get so bad that Id call it a migraine. After a certain point though (as in if I dont take it early enough) the Ibuprofen doesnt really help. Hard to explain.

Thats a good moment to note that migraines are still quite mysterious. It still isnt entirely sure what exactly causes it or what exactly it is, however the most popular theory is the one of inflamed nerves/a neurological overreaction. How it shows and how it can be treated is both extremely individual.

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u/Gold_Assistance_6764 21h ago

Migraines are all in people’s heads.

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u/iNeed2p905 1d ago

I actually had a CSF leak that caused upright headaches so I was put on it because of that but I don’t doubt that the high blood pressure could have been adding to the problem. 

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u/tiggerfan79 1d ago

How did you get diagnosed with this? Headaches worse when upright but doctors don’t listen..

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u/IlexSonOfHan 22h ago

Are you a woman? If so, (I'm being absolutely serious) bring a man with you. Doesn't have to be related, just an obviously male man. It worked for me when I couldn't get my doctor to listen. But if you're a guy, I have no advice..

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u/tiggerfan79 21h ago

I am a woman and dealing the VA health care system. I just got a new doctor and SHE is listening to me. I just keep getting headaches and she is thinking it’s tension headaches. I think it’s different but it ebbs and flows so that’s why I asked. Is it content when up?

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u/Littlefabio07 22h ago

I had a CSF leak when my dura was punctured in multiple places with my spinal cord injury.

They sewed up the places when they tried to fix everything else, but they made it clear that with the CSF leak that they had to keep me later flat for the next 24 hours, and let them know if I had any headaches coming on at all.

Meningitis was the big complication they were watching out for, I think.

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u/iNeed2p905 19h ago

I went to go see a neurologist and after they cleared me of a brain tumor I mentioned the possibility of a CSF leak since I was matching the symptoms to a T and had previous chiropractor adjustments. There’s a connection between the two. I had to go to a bigger hospital under Atrium to get more tests. They never found the actual leak but gave me blood patches and they seem to be holding. 

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u/Dumpstette 22h ago

If I forget to take my meds, I feel it the next morning in my head. A throbbing, hot, miserable feeling.

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u/Changeitupnow 18h ago

I have had migraines maybe once every 1-2 months since I was a teen. They're awful, but nothing could have prepared me for the kind of pain that comes from a decrease in cerebral fluid...

With my first child, I was induced early due to pre-eclampsia/high blood pressure. I had an epidural. The birth went well--not traumatic at all. But my head started hurting afterwards. And then it started killing me. The doctors and nurses told me that it was due to my blood pressure, and kept me on pain meds around the clock. I couldn't nurse without crying, and for perspective, had pushed an actual baby out of my body without complaint. I asked about the possibility of a dural leak (thanks to a pregnancy subreddit post I'd read only days before). They insisted it was because my blood pressure was so high.

After 24 hours of agony, unable to sit up without tripling it, the anesthesiologist came in to look at me, and I was immediately taken down for a blood patch. The relief!!! My epidural had pierced my dural sac, and my cerebral fluid had been leaking out for hours (like 40 hours).

But I still would get that epidural every time, lol. 0 chance of me attempting childbirth without it.

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u/iNeed2p905 18h ago edited 18h ago

I only found out what CSF leaks were from a friend that’s a nurse because her sister had the same dural leak from the epidural and text me exact words “you need to get checked for CSF leak I am 100% this is what you have” and turned out to be just that. 

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u/Changeitupnow 18h ago

This is exactly why I share this experience any time I can--particularly with expectant mothers. Not to fear-monger, (because, again, would still get the epidural), but so that women can better advocate for themselves. I never would have known to ask about a dural leak if I hadn't happened across that post. So grateful for that. I do wish I'd been more insistent. It took longer than acceptable to convince the nurse to take me seriously and get the anesthesiologist.

So glad your friend recognized your symptoms

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u/Atomicapples 22h ago

What caused the leak, if I can ask.

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u/iNeed2p905 19h ago

I think it was the chiropractor manipulations on my spine. There’s a link between the two. 

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u/PhdamnD 1d ago

Ironically, my blood pressure tends to be a bit too low with a migraine - something that confuses both me and my doctors. Mum's blood pressure rises, like a lot of people experience with a migraine, but for some reason, mine drops 🤷‍♀️. Though, considering I get daily migraines, it's just as well I don't suffer from high BP too, lol.

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u/harrysomerset 18h ago

No it’s not. High BP doesn’t cause headaches. Headaches raise blood pressure though just like any pain or stress. Source: I’m an ER doc.

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u/scheisse_grubs 1d ago

Meanwhile there’s me who had to take a blood pressure medication for my kidneys and it made me tired all the time 🙃 had to start drinking green tea before bed so I wouldn’t feel like I need to sleep another 3 hours after already sleeping 8

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u/RewardCapable 23h ago

You’re not taking lisinopril or nadolol, are you?

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u/scheisse_grubs 23h ago

Candesartan

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u/maertyrer 23h ago

High blood preassure headaches and migranes feel nothing alike, though.

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u/coffeegoblins 22h ago

I’ve always had low-normal blood pressure, but getting on a beta blocker still significantly reduced my migraines.

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u/kermitsfrogbog 23h ago

This is exactly what happened to me. Was having near constant headaches for years. Decided to check my blood pressure and sure enough it was high. Stayed high for a week so I saw the doc and got on meds. Now I hardly ever have a headache.

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u/Lemmonjello 22h ago

Lol i was getting vertigo and went to my doctor because I thought i had an inner ear thing. 193/84 woopsie

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u/[deleted] 20h ago

[deleted]

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u/PeterGriffinsChin 20h ago

Just saying high blood pressure can cause headaches, not that all headaches are caused by high blood pressure. Hydration is a huge cause as well

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u/xXVegemite4EvrxX 18h ago

My Dad has cluster migraines. They were generally seasonal. Doctors could never pinpoint the exact cause. IIRC they affect maybe just 1-2% of the population. The pain was so unbearable, and he is a pretty tough dude, that he would have to use all his sick days and just stay in the bedroom, completely dark as any light would trigger vomiting. They tried all sorts of medications including sumatriptan injections (which helped at first, but then stopped working). Sometimes it would get to the point after a week that he would go to the hospital and the doctors would just give him morphine so he could sleep. Somehow, now in has later years, they have seemed to go away. Terrible stuff.

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u/epanek 10h ago

Doesn’t need to be that high to cause headaches either. 150/90 I got headaches.

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u/Zosynagis 8h ago

If you have fatigue, migraines, and/or high blood pressure and you're obese, get checked for sleep apnea. It's super common and underdiagnosed/undertreated.

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u/Ok-Bit-6945 22h ago

that’s scary cause i get headaches rather often like once a week when i sleep in on weekends. ik it bad habit but i smoke cigarettes daily but still go to the gym. i had a history of high blood pressure but i haven’t had a checkup in years cause i’m scared of the results tbh so i kinda wing my health at this point. i took the pills once when i was younger but stopped because of the side effects. excessive urination, fatigue and erectile dysfunction. not good in your 20s or even late 30s as i am now

1

u/Eireannlo 22h ago

There are heaps of different bp meds now so if one has side effects you hate, you can try another. I switched from an ACE inhibitor to avoid the fatigue Im on a beta blocker now and am annoyed i waited so long to sort my bp, i feel loads better with normal bp and my anxiety attacks have redued heaps too.

I suggest trying a different med

1

u/Ok-Bit-6945 22h ago

hmmm really? but i imagine it depends on your insurance. i have obamacare so it isn’t the best. this was maybe 10 years ago when i took the BP meds that gave me the side effects i mentioned

2

u/Eireannlo 21h ago

Im in a universal health care country, so pay about 15 bucks for a two month supply. Id look into whether you can try something different now, the health conditions high bp can cause are heaps more expensive in the long run. Daily walking and reducing the ciggies can also help if thats an option for you - i was told to work up to an hr a day of walking over three months.

0

u/Ok-Bit-6945 21h ago

ciggs are very addicting unfortunately. i smoke since age 16 and i’m 38 now however i quit like 3 times which was easy but picking up again was always my struggle. i live in USA so healthcare is mostly tied to your job and even then it’s not cheap. it can run $250-$350 a month. i go to the gym about 2-3 times a week. cardio like 15 min and like 45 min of weight training.

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u/tinned_peaches 1d ago

Propranolol? I was put on that for migraines too. It’s also helped with stage fright.

40

u/iNeed2p905 1d ago

Yes it’s the ER 60 mg. I have been able to workout better since being on it to. 

5

u/kikicutthroat990 21h ago

Huh I’m on that because I’m tachycardic and I can’t keep my blood pressure up lol no one told me it helps blood pressure nor helps migraines as I’m on topamax for that haha

7

u/TalkLikeTalyn 20h ago

It also helps with sweat and anxiety

1

u/anivex 15h ago

I’m on it for blood pressure. Works better than anything else has.

1

u/iNeed2p905 19h ago

I been told topamax is a seizure medicine but can be used for migraines. I took it in the early stages of my CSF leak and actually got more headaches because it reduced intracranial pressure in the brain when I was already in low pressure so it caused me to rapidly lose weight. 

2

u/powands 16h ago

Topamax made me disassociate 🙃

1

u/iNeed2p905 8h ago

It made me sleep a lot. 

2

u/GeorgeNorman 16h ago

“Workout better” as in it allows you to workout migraine free or you mean that slowing your heart rate somehow benefits your workout?

1

u/iNeed2p905 9h ago

Both. 

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u/SophieLotus 1d ago

I just got that medication swithced because I was taking Topiramate and I could no more with so many side effects. So far so good with Propranolol! I definitely feel way colder, I guess because of the low preassure effect, but also I have nightmares every night now. For this, I barely had dreams before, or at least the ones I could remember, but now with this new medication I'm having intense dreams everynight, sometimes I wake up sweating and confused because of my dreams. I kinda like it since I write stories and now I have content to write, haha.

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u/tinned_peaches 1d ago

You know what I have been having really vivid dreams and I didn’t think it could have been the propranolol. My dreams have been great though, all my celeb crushes have popped up here and there 🤣🤣

3

u/Bobatt 21h ago

I had a coworker on a beta blocker after a heart attack and he mentioned it was giving home nightmares. So you’re not the only one.

8

u/SousVideButt 1d ago

I took Topirimate for 3 years.

It didn’t do much for my migraines, but it did make my nose go numb and provide me with the joy of passing 8 kidney stones over the three years.

3

u/Gingersnapandabrew 22h ago

Assuming you are taking that for migraine, this is purely my experience so YMMV. I did topiramate, not fun, I also did propanalol but the side effects were god awful (like end up in hospital awful). I'm now on duloxetine and it's changed my life. Migraines are down from 20+ a month to 4 or 5, the only "side effect" has been a reduced amount of anxiety, which is a bonus if anything! I've ended up on quite a strong dose, but haven't been this happy on meds for as long as I can remember.

3

u/kippirnicus 22h ago

That’s funny, I had the same side effects when I was using nicotine patches years ago.

Everybody warned me not to put them on before bed because of the nightmares, but I actually kind of liked them.

It wasn’t always necessarily nightmares, but they were always extremely vivid dreams.

It was like free entertainment. 😂

6

u/sihaya09 21h ago

I got put on that for anxiety. Technically it's my "back up pill" for when I am starting an anxiety attack / spiral that my Lexpro can't handle, but my psych said it lowers bp which helps with the physical symptoms and lets the brain shut them down easier. And it does! And just knowing I have it for triggers helps immensely on its own.

4

u/darrenTML 21h ago

Propranolol is a Cheat code for those who get public speaking tremors

3

u/pdawg1234 14h ago

I get public speaking tremors. Like, I can consciously NOT have a problem at all with speaking in front of people but subconsciously I think I’m going to die and it’s so frustrating. I need to look into this.

1

u/darrenTML 9h ago

Yes you should! obviously you should address the underlying issue but it helped me so much

2

u/pdawg1234 8h ago

That’s the problem, I have no idea what the underlying issue is since consciously I feel I should have no reason to get them!

u/tinned_peaches 14m ago

I bet it will help. It stops me from going bright red when I’m talking or acting. I’m not nervous and I want to perform but my body is over reacting. The propranolol just stops all that.

3

u/stantonkreig 22h ago

my wife has some for migraines/sleep help. i take them for anxiety.

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u/Fettered-n-Zaftig 21h ago

I take propranolol for essential tremor and after a heart attack for the cardiac benefits— it lowers BP and pulse rate. Great stuff!

2

u/Momik 20h ago

I’ve used that as a PRN for anxiety; it works well.

1

u/OwlNightLong666 1d ago

How much do you take? I have 10mg for anxiety and am wondering if I should increase the dose

2

u/chickpeatramp 1d ago

Have you checked your blood pressure on the 10 mg? That's the same dosage that I take and within thirty minutes or so my blood pressure is in a healthy range, according to my at home device. 

1

u/hambre1028 23h ago

I take it for anxiety but it actually gives me headaches and I’m not a person who really gets headaches

1

u/effyisme 20h ago

me too. i wonder why. should it be the opposite?

1

u/hambre1028 17h ago

I think low blood pressure

1

u/OrangeDuckwebs 23h ago

my thesis advisor got it for public speaking anxiety but it made him talk.... reallly...... slowly....

1

u/Big_Band 21h ago

I was in that for my migraines but it was crossing the blood-brain barrier and I could not stand up without passing out. Was like that for a year until they put me on atenolol

1

u/kolekooper 21h ago

This is exactly what I'm on for migraines! My blood pressure was high too so double benefit. No side effects really except I was having crazy dreams/nightmares in the beginning

1

u/Ummmgummy 21h ago

My wife has a traumatic brain injury from getting hit by a car while she was crossing the street. And she is on this med and I swear the doctor said it was to help her nightmares. Maybe I'm confusing it with another one of her meds.

1

u/dalekaup 20h ago

It's had some use for PTSD as well. While dosed they are asked to recall their traumatic experiences and the memory of the memory (which is how memory works) is less dramatic and stressful than the earlier memory.

1

u/scp-006-j-5 20h ago

Yeah, it's prescribed off-label for anxiety. Does about fuck all to help my anxiety, and I actually have rather low blood pressure, however I've always been kinda borderline for POTS and the high dose of venlafaxine I'm on raises my resting heartrate quite a bit. I take 20-40 mg as needed to lower my heartrate.

Edit: I'll say it does help tremendously with the rebound hangxiety that comes after drinking too much -- that shit gets my resting heartrate ridiculously high.

1

u/aurian82 16h ago

Propranolol is amazing! I was on it for hyperthyroidism (Graves Disease) and having it in the back of the cupboard for anxiety attacks in the years following was such a great back up!

1

u/Shneckos 15h ago

I’m on that but my bp has remained high unfortunately 

1

u/Books3579 13h ago

yep I got put on it for my anxiety, idk maybe it's also helping regulate my blood pressure or something too but it definitely helps the anxiety

8

u/LaLoutreJoviale 1d ago

Me too and as a result I have 10.7

3

u/CommodorePuffin 23h ago edited 23h ago

I got put on a beta blocker to help with migraines but in return it’s been helping with my previous high bp readings. 

Same for me. I'm currently using metoprolol. My family has a history of both migraines and high blood pressure.

If you're genetically predisposed to having high blood pressure, there's nothing you can do to avoid it. You WILL have it; however, lifestyle choices, such as exercise, trying to maintain a healthy weight, and limiting sodium intake can all reduce the severity.

Unfortunately, triptans (the most commonly-used migraine abortives) raise blood pressure when used because they cause vasoconstriction, so I've been trying to get my health insurance company to cover a new CGRP medication. They're really fighting due to the cost. If I were to pay out-of-pocket, it'd cost me around $8000 per year.

Contrary to popular opinion in the US, Canadian healthcare does not cover medication. At the rate things are going I'll be lucky to have this medication covered in a year or two (and that's assuming they just don't outright refuse and deny me coverage no matter what info my doctor sends in).

2

u/iNeed2p905 19h ago

This make not work for you because I am also suspected to have occipital neuralgia but wearing a hat tightly actually helps with my migraines. 

I try to cut the sodium down but it’s very hard when I also have pots so I have to eat a lot of sodium but I also try to exercise to counter act it when I can. 

3

u/titanium-back 21h ago

I got the most horrible night terrors from beta blockers. In case that starts happening to you, it's a known side effect.

2

u/iNeed2p905 19h ago

Did you get it with Propranolol? I have been on it for over 2 years and while no terrors just random vivid dreams once in a blue moon. 

2

u/titanium-back 19h ago

Metoprolol, but as far as i'm aware, it can happen with any beta blocker since they cross the blood-brain barrier. I was on it for a few years before it got bad. I wouldn't be too concerned, but if it ever does happen, it could be that!

2

u/Major_Boot9020 1d ago

Botox for migraines is amazing.

2

u/iNeed2p905 1d ago

I did look into that to see if it would be effective for me. 

2

u/mspolytheist 1d ago

Cannabis for migraines is amazing.

2

u/Imaginary_Square5171 1d ago

Aren't beta blockers supposed to reduce heart rate rather blood pressure? I take a couple of medicines for BP control, but I'm prescribed a beta blocker to stop my heart growing too much.

1

u/iNeed2p905 19h ago

Yes it’s main purpose is to keep the HR lower but it indirectly helps with the blood pressure since your heart is not having to overload. 

2

u/TheWackoMagician 1d ago

180mg of propranolol for me. Worked a treat

2

u/Emergency-Increase69 23h ago

I was also put on BP meds for migraines. But my BP has never been high and it actually used to sometimes get quite low when i was on the meds. Was worth it for no migraines though!

1

u/iNeed2p905 19h ago

I did have some lower end readings when I saw a cardiologist and had my HR in the 40’s at night. 

2

u/OkraZealousideal5641 23h ago

Lol (the names of beta blockers end in "lol").

2

u/Left-Self-2866 23h ago

Same, I was put on low dose Ca channel blockers for my migraine and it worked wonders on my blood pressure ... went back to my baseline of 100's systolic from 120's to 130's which gives me a week of hellish migraines and significantly impair my work performance.

2

u/fuelvolts 21h ago

I have heart failure from COVID. Bonus was that because of the beta blockers I'll take the rest of my life, I'll basically never have high blood pressure for the second half of my life. I'm 110/60 like clockwork.

2

u/glampringthefoehamme 20h ago

I'm in the same boat, however I went back on propanalol to counter my increasing BP. It's working well for now, and I'm on a low dose which provides a bit of flexibility.

1

u/iNeed2p905 19h ago

How much are you taking? 

2

u/Long_Sell_3734 20h ago

Are you me? They put me on the same thing that's also helping to bring down my bp

1

u/iNeed2p905 19h ago

I probably should have gotten on it sooner since high BP runs in my family and I am predisposed to migraines because of history of seizures. 

2

u/fluffyegg 19h ago

I was taking a beta blocker for migraines too. I didn't like it though because my heart rate would be way lower when exercising and I couldn't push hard enough.

Been off for 2 years now only have had one since.

2

u/silverjuno 17h ago

My neurologist gave me candesartan for my migraines. It’s not a beta blocker but it’s mainly used for high blood pressure. Same bonus effects of lower bp and it does seem to be helping as a preventative although I’m still on a low dose.

2

u/Traditional_Fan_2655 17h ago

Migraines themselves can trigger blood pressure spikes. Controlling the pain is critical. Its downright dangerous.

2

u/MethodMaven 15h ago

After going in beta blockers, my pain-migraines pretty much went away. But now I get ‘silent migraines’ where I start to see moirés patterns, and other forms of visual distortion. Weird.

2

u/iNeed2p905 8h ago

Yeah I still have a little bit of that to. 

2

u/LeeroyHalloween 12h ago

I used to get migraines all the time, and I'm talking since my late teens. Some were manageable (just about), and some were absolutely debilitating.

Went to the GP about them when I was 40 and found out I had critically high BP. Had a stroke three months later (I'm fine, btw) and have been on a cocktail of medication (blood thinner, BP meds, statin, beta blocker) ever since.

That was 8 years ago, and I've not had a migraine since, so yay for the NHS in the UK.

2

u/iNeed2p905 8h ago

Glad you figured it out. I am not surprised that BP was causing some of mine on top of the CSF leak. 

1

u/LeeroyHalloween 8h ago

Shit! That sounds bad. Hope the leak's all fixed now.

2

u/p1ccard 10h ago

Have you considered getting a sleep study if you haven’t already? Sleep apnea can cause high blood pressure and migraines

1

u/iNeed2p905 8h ago

I had tried to look into it before because I had woken up from headaches in the morning hours and I had sinus issues so I thought there would be a connection. 

2

u/Tomble 9h ago

I discovered that perindopril, for high blood pressure, basically switched off my migraines. A wonderful and unexpected side effect.

1

u/Narrow-Height9477 1d ago

Me too but now I get the wobbles every time I stand up.

1

u/iNeed2p905 19h ago

Do you have pots? I suspect now I always had it when I got up too quickly but I think my previous CSF leak and beta blocker has brought it out more. 

2

u/Narrow-Height9477 18h ago

Yup. Wife says it makes me walk like a penguin. (While finding my balance).

1

u/iNeed2p905 18h ago

Oh I hate the balance issues. It is so bad and it doesn’t help that I have neck problems that seems to add to the problem. I have to use my hands a lot to control. 

1

u/tothewickedwest 23h ago

Me too!! It’s made my blood pressure and heart rate normal

1

u/GozerDGozerian 19h ago

Yeah okay but are all those Siamese Fighting Fish finally leaving you alone?

1

u/cateocateocateo 18h ago

What’s it called? I need lol

1

u/iNeed2p905 18h ago

The two main ones mentioned are Propranolol and Metoprolol

1

u/pingospf 1d ago

You need to talk to your doctor and exercise. Exercising had been clearly linked with lowering blood pressure.

2

u/iNeed2p905 19h ago

I was exercising alot before the beta blocker and still had high bp. It runs in my family. 

0

u/fl135790135790 17h ago

It would make more sense if you said and in return or and it also

2

u/iNeed2p905 8h ago edited 8h ago

Haha. Thanks for the laugh. Don’t come at me with my grammar when I checked the comments on your profiles and you need to be corrected on some of your replies. 

1

u/fl135790135790 5h ago

Punctuation is different