Why do I get so many migraines?!

Why do I get so many migraines?

I have been getting migraines for about 10 years now and am currently on beta blockers to prevent them however, they are not working so well any more. Can someone recommend a good preventative medication that doesn't have nasty side effects?

Not really, or I would have retired, a rich woman!! I am so sorry you get migraines! I got the !@#$%! things for about 35-37 years! I finally "outgrew" them-meopause. bah.) Beta-blockers didn't work for me. (Neither did calcium channel-blockers.) I assume you've heard of caffergot (works for some, but you have to have "warning" that one is coming on.) I didn't. I understand that the "classic" migraine (aura, etc,.) is actually rare.After about two lifetimes (seemed like that) of hanging out 3-4 nights a week in the ER; a doctor gave me DHE 45. (I know; sounds like a pesticide!) It can be given intravenously; but I couldn't do that myself. My neurologist gave me a prescription for it; and I gave myself the shot (in my hip. where there's lots! of "muscle", in my case!) Start to finish, 40 minutes! No more headache! The night I got that first shot of the DHE 45 was the first time I ever walked into the ER with a migraine, and walked out without it! It was a god-send for me, because I no longer had to be scared to death of the next headache! I don't know whether it would work for you, or if you are at all able to give yourself the shot, but I sure could, and did! You might check into it, if it works on your headache, at least you know what to order in the ER/at your doctor's office.(smile) Oh. I had a lot of luck with Nardil, when my neurologist ordered it for me, finally. ( Before I went to her, painkillers were all that worked; IF they worked; it's all a crap-shoot, as I'm sure you know! ) Nardil is a an MAO inhibitor, and the diet is kind of restrictive...(it can raise your blood pressure; dangerous if you combine it with the wrong foods/medications). It is/was used as an antidepressant. This happens to be a happy (for me) side-use. I was prepared to give up EATING, if something would only work!! The Nardil cut the frequency of the headaches, by quite a bit. It's been about 10 years since I had a constant headache, (seemed that way, anyhow,) so I don't know what's out there these days. I just saw your question, and thought "Poor Baby!" Good luck, and maybe something I said can be of help to you! Oh. The DHE 45 was designed specifically for the treatment of migraine, and had been out about 10 years before anybody thought to mention it to me! Turns out; it wasn't very useful to very many of us. Sure worked for me, thank god! Hope something is found that works for you, soon! Good luck kiddo.