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Topic: MORE VERAPAMIL AT BEDTIME VS STEADY DOSES (Read 241 times) |
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BILLY
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MORE VERAPAMIL AT BEDTIME VS STEADY DOSES
« on: Apr 7th, 2003, 10:59pm » |
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Is it a bad idea to dose Verapamil (immediate release) higher at bedtime (as I've read is done for Lithium for example) if sleep is when 90+% of your attacks happen (generally 90 min after onset) or should every dose be the same three times a day? Interested in people's thoughts,
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BILLY
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Re: MORE VERAPAMIL AT BEDTIME VS STEADY DOSES
« Reply #1 on: Apr 7th, 2003, 11:04pm » |
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P.S. - Sorry about the Cap Lock in the Subject, please don't hold it against me:)
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domm
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Re: MORE VERAPAMIL AT BEDTIME VS STEADY DOSES
« Reply #2 on: Apr 8th, 2003, 4:01pm » |
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Billy - once I got the Vera at the right dosage in my system (that took about 7 days), I kept the dosage even throughout the day and night (one at breakfast and one after dinner). I didn't seem to have any ups or downs after I found the right dose. When I say "right dose", I mean the level where I was not getting any breakthrough. Good luck finding what works for you. domm
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BILLY
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Re: MORE VERAPAMIL AT BEDTIME VS STEADY DOSES
« Reply #3 on: Apr 8th, 2003, 7:08pm » |
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Thanks for sharing that domm, it is comforting. I have noted in your post & others that they only take verapamil 2x/day (with food am & pm)? I thought immediate release verapamil (the version most recommended for CH) was supposed to be taken 3x/day? Do many CH'ers get by on Verapamil-IR on just 2x/day or are you taking a controlled release version? I also noticed in some people's post that they take a higher dose at one time versus their other dose & that's why I wondered if one could get by with improved efficacy & tolerability if the doses were targeted more to when they most likely get attacks (sleep in my case may improve the efficacy & experience less side effects while sleeping than a steady non-targeting dose) as long as it wasn't otherwise detrimental?
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domm
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Re: MORE VERAPAMIL AT BEDTIME VS STEADY DOSES
« Reply #4 on: Apr 8th, 2003, 8:01pm » |
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Billy - I don't think Vera has a traditional "half life" the way other drugs do (Imitrex ~ 4 hours, etc.). The fact that it takes _days_ to "build up" in your system and the fact that effective dosages range all over the map, tells me that this med is different. Ueli or Bob P are probably better informed / educated to answer this than me. I also think you have to experiment a bit to find what works best for you. Do so with your Doc's approval and watch your blood pressure. I used the immediate release variety. Started at 120mg/day (with dinner). Then upped it to 180 to 240 mg/day (breakfast and dinner) and found complete relief. It cut my normal 16 week cycle at least in half. After I knew my cycle was over, I stepped back to 120 mg/day and switched to extended release for a few months. Now, I'm off it completely because of other unwanted side effects. Eat lots of roughage, and good luck. PFDANs domm
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