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Topic: Pain Medications that work (Read 797 times) |
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KipBurbank
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To avoid taking so many shots of Imitrex I need to find a pain medication that really kicks ass. I can't bother with OTC stuff. Vicodin is too week and screws with my head. I tried Stadol and it was horrible made me feel nervous and sedated all at once. If I knew more I could ask the Doc to let me experiment with the heavy duty stuff, trouble is, I don't know what the heavy duty stuff is. Since most of mine are at night time, bed time, it really wouldn't matter if it makes me groggy or whipped up or anything. As long as I could sleep. A nights sleep, that would be so choice.
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jonny
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Re: Pain Medications that work
« Reply #1 on: Sep 16th, 2003, 5:54pm » |
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02?
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catlind
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Re: Pain Medications that work
« Reply #2 on: Sep 16th, 2003, 5:57pm » |
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Kip, duck and cover hehe.
You have opened yourself up for some serious lectures with this.
In the experience of MOST clusterheads, there is no pain medication that will help you out for any long term use.
So far, (and I am NOT a doctor) the only results I've heard of with narcotics are with the duragesic patch and straight oxycontin. You will find that your head will be screwed up consistently with taking any of the strong narcotics out there.
While you have to do what you have to do, PLEASE be very careful about taking narcotics, they truly are not effective for CH.
If you really really want to do something that will help your head and have exhausted all normal medical avenues, you may want to consider shroom therapy.
You can read more about it at clusterbusters.com or read through some of the posts on the med section.
This treatment is illegal and not for everyone, and there is no guarantee. It has worked miracles for many folks, and they will tell you everything you need to know if you choose to use this avenue.
I am not advocating the use of illegal means to manage your CH, however each of us must do whatever we need to do in order to manage this affliction.
Narcotics are a dangerous road to travel, I know I travelled it and went through a couple of weeks of hell getting off them. You will hear many similar stories, and you will be told outright that narcotics are not effective methods of treatment for this. Even the CH experts will tell you it's not a viable long term treatment.
Cat
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Prense
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Re: Pain Medications that work
« Reply #3 on: Sep 16th, 2003, 5:57pm » |
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Yeah, definately O2!
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5-string
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Re: Pain Medications that work
« Reply #4 on: Sep 16th, 2003, 6:16pm » |
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Yeah.....what Catlind said..
The "hard stuff" can add a whole new hell to some,and your head will still be on fire. At least that's been my humble experience.
Try 02.
...Mark..
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UnsolvedEquation
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Re: Pain Medications that work
« Reply #5 on: Sep 16th, 2003, 7:17pm » |
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The 'hard stuff' will only make you groggy WITH ONE HELL OF A HEADACHE ! Just face it, there is no pain med that will help (at least it wont help me). Except of course being knocked unconcious with about 100 mg of Demerol via IV or maybe 2 - 4 mg of Stadol via IV. And you can't get that 'to go' ... it has to be after an hour or more wait in the ER. By then ... I've already took the Imitrex injection.
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Prense
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Re: Pain Medications that work
« Reply #6 on: Sep 16th, 2003, 7:22pm » |
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on Sep 16th, 2003, 7:17pm, UnsolvedEquation wrote:| Except of course being knocked unconcious with about 100 mg of Demerol via IV. |
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Demerol made me not give a shit that I still had a HA. ;D It was some time later that I went nighty night...for ummm...a long time. ;D
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Miss_Deleny
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Re: Pain Medications that work
« Reply #7 on: Sep 16th, 2003, 7:25pm » |
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Ain't that the truth Prense!!!!!!! 
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Prense
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Re: Pain Medications that work
« Reply #8 on: Sep 16th, 2003, 7:26pm » |
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on Sep 16th, 2003, 7:25pm, Miss_Deleny wrote:| Ain't that the truth Prense!!!!!!! |
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Uh huh. ;D
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UnsolvedEquation
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Re: Pain Medications that work
« Reply #9 on: Sep 16th, 2003, 7:29pm » |
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It takes ALOT for me now. I use to get relief from a small amount. Now I need more and more everytime. That sucks !! Doc gives me a BIG dose and comes back in 5 minutes...it's always the same " You feel better ?"... Then I say " YOU MF'ER ... GET ME SOME PAIN MEDICATION NOW !!"...A few minutes later, and another shot...I'm snooozin' 
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Elaine
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Re: Pain Medications that work
« Reply #10 on: Sep 16th, 2003, 7:33pm » |
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Now you talking about a hell! If you take pain meds and your groggy and a cluster hits. Guess what You will be fighting that cluster in your weekest form. Not only will the pain be there but it will last longer. Thats what happen to me. I can remember all I wanted to do was sleep. You have to get sleep! I know some are afraid of sleep but you got to get over that. You can stay up all night long and you will still get hit. It will be twice as bad, cause your tired. Any sleep is better than none a hour two hours get it when you can.
When I learned this I started to deal better with my clusters. Fighting a cluster druged is like not being able to move and people beating you. You can't fight back like that.
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Patrick_A
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Re: Pain Medications that work
« Reply #11 on: Sep 16th, 2003, 10:49pm » |
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Prednisone and Verapamil stopped my cycle in its tracks, but Imitex was the only abortive i ever found to work for me.
Pain free for 3 weeks now, Patrick
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cootie
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Re: Pain Medications that work
« Reply #12 on: Sep 16th, 2003, 10:53pm » |
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Yeah even tho I'm a supporter I have seen what Brad goes thru and don't think there is an effective 'stat' pain killer fer CH that works other then make ya defenseless and suffer a different hell and it prolly last longer and get hit more cuz of the stuff. Suma the hard stuff has helped me with my back and migraines from it.....but I don't take it daily cuz " I know better ".....and I appriciate the break when I do. It's a dam tough world out there........Pam that knows it all too well
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Charlie
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Re: Pain Medications that work
« Reply #13 on: Sep 16th, 2003, 11:00pm » |
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Damn sorry you have to put up with this horror.
Here are two links: One for a technique I found effective and a second link to a description of this disease which does a wonderful job explaining to employers and others that this has nothing to with what is thought of as a “headache.”
http://www.netsync.net/users/charlies/
http://www.ouch-uk.org/ch/note_colleagues.cfm
Good luck.
Charlie
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Mark C
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Re: Pain Medications that work
« Reply #14 on: Sep 17th, 2003, 2:02am » |
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From O.U.C.H.
The pain of CH builds up very rapidly to such an excruciating intensity that most oral agents are absorbed too slowly to cure the pain within a reasonable time. The most efficacious abortive agents are those involving parentral or pulmonary administration.
Subcutaneous sumatriptan (6mg) is the drug of choice in abortive treatment of a cluster attack. It has a rapid effect and high response rate. In CH, unlike migraine, subcutaneous sumatriptan can be prescribed at a frequency of twice daily, on a long-term basis if necessary, without risk of tachyphylaxis or rebound.
Inhalation of 100 per cent oxygen at seven to 12 litres/min is rapidly effective in relieving pain in most sufferers. But the high-flow rate oxygen regulator is not available on the NHS, and low-flow oxygen is generally unhelpful. So this treatment is an option only if the patient can afford to buy the high-flow rate regulator.
Opiates, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and combination analgesics have no role in the acute management of CH
Cluster Headache Medications
And sleep would be very nice!
Good Luck
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| « Last Edit: Sep 17th, 2003, 2:04am by Mark C » |
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JohnM
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Re: Pain Medications that work
« Reply #15 on: Sep 17th, 2003, 3:40am » |
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In the past 30 years I have never found a painkiller that even comes close to helping relieve these bastards and I have tried just about everything. Until I discovered the imigran/imitrex injection I always had to just ride them out.
I reckon you have more chance of becoming a junkie than finding a pk that works.
Try the "imitrex tip" to reduce consumption, or try the O2 like Jonny says. Never tried the O2 myself but it works for many here.
John
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stevegeebe
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Re: Pain Medications that work
« Reply #16 on: Sep 17th, 2003, 6:15am » |
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Kip,
Kill the headache. That's all I know.
I have a prescription for Oxycontin and I've tried it twice with no effect except to make it a worse experience.
It's a bitch. Do what Jonny said.
Steve G
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jminmilwaukee
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Re: Pain Medications that work
« Reply #17 on: Sep 17th, 2003, 7:19am » |
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Ditto on the no true help from pain meds.
I did, however, take the Vico during my cycles at about 4 per day just to get by. It did nothing for the pain but made me numb enough, on top of the sleep depravation to get through my work day. Kinda like "yeah, my head hurts but the rest of me feels no pain".
The only reason I was able to get away with this was due to the fact that I am episodic. NO WAY could a chronic pull this off without becoming major addicted. After 6 to 8 weeks of daily Vico I would plan my detox by tapering off the frequency and plan for a night or two of "crawling skin syndrom" once I was done.
Self detoxing is a blast! Not.
Anyway, Vico was a relatively weak pain killer and I am sure the addictive properties increase with the amount of pain killing properties in the pill of your choice.
No need for Vico now. Just O2 and shrooms for me but that is another story.
jmin
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hdbngr
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Re: Pain Medications that work
« Reply #18 on: Sep 17th, 2003, 7:55am » |
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Gotta dispute here: A chronic CAN pull it off without becoming addicted. Sorry, but I feel perfectly awful today and this is rubbing me the wrong way!
I'm chronic. I'm not an addict. I have been using the Duragesic patch, at 75m mcg, on and off for two years. It won't help with an acute flare-up, but it does help with the daily smaller pain.
Medication breaks are crucial, because like everthing else, it will get less effective over time. I do a a voluntary taper, one month at 50 mcg, one month at 25 mcg, then I don't use it at all for 3-6 months. Be prepared for about two weeks of feeling like there are bugs wiggling under your skin as you taper. If that sounds like a small thing to withstand compared to daily CH pain, it may be a valid option. By the way, if you can detox yourself, it is called DEPENDENCY, not ADDICTION. There is a BIG difference. Do most of us have the strength of mind and body to avoid addiction? Yes, we do. But is addiction the worst thing that can happen to a chronic? Not by far.
I would avoid blanket statements that no CH sufferer has been helped by narcotics. It's discouraging and untrue. I know several chronic sufferers who use Oxycontin, Duragesic, Mehtadone to help treat constant hits. These are people who don't respond to, or can't take Imitrex. Unfortunately, there is such a stigma attached to narcotic usage on this board, and a few yahoos who screw it up for the rest of us by taking too much, too often, and going to the ER for a sinus headache, that it can't be discussed openly, honestly.
V
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aprilbee
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Re: Pain Medications that work
« Reply #19 on: Sep 17th, 2003, 8:03am » |
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I agree with hdbngr, I take Relpax and 1/2 a Lortab when I feel one coming on, the Relpax aborts the Headache and the Lortab stops that lingering eye pain. I am EXTREMELY careful though to watch my intake of the Lortab, it is very habit forming and the last thing I need is to be detoxing when my cycle is over, I want to enjoy life when its over...Everyone is different though, it doesn't work for everyone, and my Dr. keeps a close eye on me...I'm very fortunate to have a Dr. who cares so much.
I am in no way trying to say that anyone is wrong here, I am just stating what works for me in hopes it might help someone else.
PFDAN to you and good luck sweetie!!!
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jminmilwaukee
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Re: Pain Medications that work
« Reply #20 on: Sep 17th, 2003, 8:19am » |
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Sorry hdbngr and aprilbee. Just like a social smoker, some do have the willpower required. My statment should have said "no way could I be chronic and not get addicted".
I have a very addictive personality and have seen this to be somewaht common amoungst the CH crowd. How many coffee smoking, cigrette drinking beer guzzlers do we have here?
Did not mean to offend. I personally feel that by allowing myself to get to the point where detox is needed that I am physically addicted at said time.
For those with the willpower, dependant is definatly more appropriate. (serious, not sarcasm).
Just be carefull out there.
jeff
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hdbngr
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Re: Pain Medications that work
« Reply #21 on: Sep 17th, 2003, 8:30am » |
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Thanks Jeff.
With the spinal stimulator implant just around the corner, I can hope that this will be my last taper anyway, that the pain medication may become a thing of the past for me anyway. To go episodic would be great.
I got ruffled up so fast, I didn't even answer Kip's question. Kip, sounds like you are looking for sleep, rather than pain medication. Some (not all) sufferers have had luck with Ambien. It must be taken at bedtime only (no machinery, cars) and it will sometimes keep you far enough under to sleep through smaller hits, although not a monster one.
Good luck and PFDAN,
V
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stuey
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Re: Pain Medications that work
« Reply #22 on: Sep 17th, 2003, 9:25am » |
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Besides Imitrex injections the only thing that has worked for me has been Relpax or some other Triptans. Narcotics like vicodin make me feel nice but don't touch CH pain at all, oxycontin does absolutely nothing for me other than make me seize. I still have not tried oxygen but if I have taken Relpax quickly enough it has aborted the attacks. Imitrex injections work the quickest and I love and will climb a tall moutain to get some imitrex.
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aprilbee
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Re: Pain Medications that work
« Reply #23 on: Sep 17th, 2003, 9:38am » |
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Jeff, no need to apologize...I am an addictive personality too, I have alcholoism on both sides of my family, so I try to stay away from drinking heavily (luckily I have CH to basically halt drinking altogether) and I am a smoker also...and that's why my Dr. watches over me so closely...I love the way Lortab makes me feel which scares me to death, that's why I HAVE to make a conscious effort not to take if for "fun"...and believe me that is very difficult at times, everyday stresses make me want to just take a couple of Lortab sit in my bed smoke and be all alone with no one to hassle me...
What works for one doesn't work for another. We are all the same but we are all also so very different!!!
Kip, I hope you find what you need to get some relief! Hang tough sweetie!
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Mr. Happy
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Re: Pain Medications that work
« Reply #24 on: Sep 17th, 2003, 10:53am » |
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Kip,
Reading your past posts........the only items you mention are Celexa and Imitrex, and apparently, the Celexa isn't doing all that much. Before you dive headfirst into narcs, there are Numerous preventatives you need to try, including shrooms. As for your 6 jams a day of Trex......sure hope you're breaking that down into 2 mg shots with your own needles or the Injex tool. (Six _full_ loads daily would be enough to make my heart explode.)
Think preventatives, not narcs, at this point. More than likely, there's a cocktail out there with your name on it. We're all going to be at this for years to come. Save the narcs for when All Else Fails.
Think O2, too.......
RJ
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