Author |
Topic: topamax vs verapamil (Read 629 times) |
|
HILITER
New Board Newbie
I love YaBB 1G - SP1!
Posts: 3
|
 |
topamax vs verapamil
« on: May 5th, 2005, 8:44pm » |
 Quote  Modify
|
hello there, I am a 33 yr old female who has had ch for years but just recently was diagnosed because it is most common in 20-40 yr old men. Anyway I normally use Imitrex for the quick fix and then predisone and verapamil for the long haul. This time the headaches started to come back and the dr. suggested topamax instead. I read the board and read lots of yucky things about topamax and only a few good. Is there anyone out ther who has something positive to say about it? I understand there is a good chance of weight loss but I also understand that is because everything tastes like crap. I would love to not be hungry and have some weight drop but I don't really want to still be starving and just have nothing taste good. Any thoughts from anyone???
|
|
 IP Logged |
|
|
|
E-Double
CH.com Alumnus
New Board Hall of Famer
Are we ourselves?
  
Gender: 
Posts: 6458
|
|
Re: topamax vs verapamil
« Reply #1 on: May 5th, 2005, 9:35pm » |
Quote Modify
|
It doesn't have to be a "Vs." you can use them together.
I hated it and didn't lose weight 
I thought that would be a perk 
Good luck and sorry I really don't have anything positive from my experience
E
|
|
IP Logged |
I can't believe that I have to bang my
Head against this wall again
But the blows they have just a little more
Space in-between them
Gonna take a breath and try again.
|
|
|
HILITER
New Board Newbie
I love YaBB 1G - SP1!
Posts: 3
|
|
Re: topamax vs verapamil
« Reply #2 on: May 6th, 2005, 1:00am » |
Quote Modify
|
How long were you on it and what dosage were you taking?? You said you hated it....what were some of the side effects?
|
|
IP Logged |
|
|
|
don
Guest
|
What dosage of verapamil were you using?
Do you only use the verap while in cycle?
|
|
IP Logged |
|
|
|
HILITER
New Board Newbie
I love YaBB 1G - SP1!
Posts: 3
|
|
Re: topamax vs verapamil
« Reply #5 on: May 6th, 2005, 6:06pm » |
Quote Modify
|
I was on 180 mg of verapamil and only started it when the cycle started. I usually continue on it for a couple of months after I finished the prednisone and then I would be done until the next attack which was usually about a year. I started the topamax last night and I guess we will just have to see what happens. I just can't believe that so many people can suffer from such a horrible thing and yet there are so few answers........
|
|
IP Logged |
|
|
|
don
Guest
|
Quote:| I was on 180 mg of verapamil |
|
Ussually not an effective dose. I was going to suggest upping the verap before using the dopymax.
|
|
IP Logged |
|
|
|
Bob_Johnson
New Board Hall of Famer
Gender:
Posts: 1796
|
|
Re: topamax vs verapamil
« Reply #7 on: May 8th, 2005, 9:33am » |
Quote Modify
|
Because Verap. is a less problematic med than Top., I suggest that you try Verap. at doses up wards of 800mg before you decide that it doesn't work for you.
If your doc doesn't like this idea, print out this article and give to him.
: Headache. 2004 Nov;44(10):1013-8.
Individualizing treatment with verapamil for cluster headache patients.
Blau JN, Engel HO.
Background.-Verapamil is currently the best available prophylactic drug for patients experiencing cluster headaches (CHs). Published papers usually state 240 to 480 mg taken in three divided doses give good results, ranging from 50% to 80%; others mention higher doses-720, even 1200 mg per day. In clinical practice we found we needed to adapt dosage to individual's time of attacks, in particular giving higher doses before going to bed to suppress severe nocturnal episodes. A few only required 120 mg daily. We therefore evolved a scheme for steady and progressive drug increase until satisfactory control had been achieved. Objective.-To find the minimum dose of verapamil required to prevent episodic and chronic cluster headaches by supervising each individual and adjusting the dosage accordingly. Methods.-Consecutive patients with episodic or chronic CH (satisfying International Headache Society (IHS) criteria) were started on verapamil 40 mg in the morning, 80 mg early afternoon, and 80 mg before going to bed. Patients kept a diary of all attacks, recording times of onset, duration, and severity. They were advised, verbally and in writing, to add 40 mg verapamil on alternate days, depending on their attack timing: with nocturnal episodes the first increase was the evening dose and next the afternoon one; when attacks occurred on or soon after waking, we advised setting an alarm clock 2 hours before the usual waking time and then taking the medication. Patients were followed-up at weekly intervals until attacks were controlled. They were also reviewed when a cluster period had ended, and advised to continue on the same dose for a further 2 weeks before starting systematic reduction. Chronic cluster patients were reviewed as often as necessary. Results.-Seventy consecutive patients, 52 with episodic CH during cluster periods and 18 with chronic CH, were all treated with verapamil as above. Complete relief from headaches was obtained in 49 (94%) of 52 with episodic, and 10 (55%) of 18 with chronic CH; the majority needed 200 to 480 mg, but 9 in the episodic, and 3 in the chronic group, needed 520 to 960 mg for control. Ten, 2 in the episodic and 8 in the chronic group, with incomplete relief, required additional therapy-lithium, sumatriptan, or sodium valproate. One patient withdrew because verapamil made her too tired, another developed Stevens-Johnson syndrome, and the drug was withdrawn. Conclusions.-Providing the dosage for each individual is adequate, preventing CH with verapamil is highly effective, taken three (occasionally with higher doses, four) times a day. In the majority (94%) with episodic CH steady dose increase under supervision, totally suppressed attacks. However in the chronic variety only 55% were completely relieved, 69% men, but only 20% women. In both groups, for those with partial attack suppression, additional prophylactic drugs or acute treatment was necessary. (Headache 2004;44:1013-101 .
|
|
IP Logged |
Bob Johnson
|
|
|
stomper
New Board Newbie
Gender:
Posts: 28
|
|
Re: topamax vs verapamil
« Reply #8 on: Jun 4th, 2005, 6:47pm » |
Quote Modify
|
WOW NOW! BEEN ON THE VERAP 5 OUT OF 11 YRS NEVER HAD AN ADJUSTMENT.BEEN REALLY THINKIN ABOUT WEANING AS THIS HAS NOT HELPED. 180 DAILY FOR ME. NOW I HERE THIS! MUST BE THE DOC! 11 YEARS C.H.> MAN TO MUCH TREX, 2 MUCH VERAP . CRONIC,I AM , 12MONTH ON ,6 OFF, 15 ON, AND THIS WAS PERSCRIBED WRONG! ADJUSTMENTS? NEVER KNEW. NEWBIE I AM. THANK YOU BOB! AGAIN JUST GOES TO SHOW! DOCTORS , THINK ILL BE MY OWN, AS THEY HAVE NOT HELPED !
|
|
IP Logged |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Home
Help
Search
Members
Member Map
Login
Register
Reply
Notify of replies
Send Topic
Print
Remove
test rss