I am 32 and have suffered from migraines for about 3 years. They started pretty much out of the blue, however, a lot of people in my family suffer from them.
I have tried nortriptaline, amitriptaline, verapamil, all without success. The first two didn't do anything for my migraines, and the verapamil made my blood pressure so low I couldn't function. (My blood pressure is low to begin with, it doesn't bother me, it's just always been like that)
I can't take the triptans, so for pain relief, those are out. (When I tried, my throat closed up to the point where I couldn't breathe at all, and I had to have an epinephrine injection). My next options, and the options my doctor is really pushing me for would be to try a Beta Blocker (Inderal) or Topamax. I'm concerned about what the beta blocker will do to my blood pressure/heart rate as they are already low, and also how my asthma will react. At this point, my asthma, which had been under control for years, is out of control. I have an appointment with a specialist, but that's still a ways off. I'm currently taking 20 mg/ day of prednisone, and it's reduced the attacks and the severity of the attacks, however it's as low as i can go without consequences. I started out this fall on a much higher dose, so I've been on prednisone for around 6 months now. I also take pulmicort, and inhaled steroid, Xopenex, Serevent and Singulair. (I've been in the ER several times this fall/winter due to attacks)
How will the beta blocker and topamax effect my asthma?
Second, my doctor also wants to try an unusually strict form of the migraine diet for several months. I would be allowed only rice, oatmeal, potatoes, chicken breast, corn, carrots, and apples. My concern is the lack of nutrients- I'm already battling osteoporosis from the prednisone, and I'm supposed to be on this diet for 3 months before I start adding foods, at the rate of 1 food per month, so the restricted diet will be for nearly a year before any substantial additions will be made. Is this safe?
(Also, I'm 5'4" and did weight around 120 lbs, but I'm down to about 113 because the prednisone bothers my stomach so eating is hard)