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soccormom55
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 Hi..I am Kari, 29 years old...suffering from clusters for about 7 years...tried everything under the sun and nothing ever really worked. I took Imetrex for 5 years during my clusters which lasted from the beginning of May unti the end of June...usually about 8-10 cl a day! In November of 2002, I suffered a heart attack due to consiistantly taking Imetrex..well, I can not take it any longer. Sooooooo...I started on a heart medication called Norvasc prescribed by my GP, not my Cardiologist because he put me on something that brought on my cl...dumb doctors...but my GP is very good and very intunned to my problems...anyway, he said that this drug could possibly help with my clusters...well, I started in late April getting just a few cl...he bumped up my daily dose to 10 mg...have not had a cl since...I don't know what it is, but ever since I started taking this med, I missed this last bout! Just a little FYI for my fellow sufferers!
Thanks, ;D
Kari
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Brew
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Re: Norvasc
« Reply #1 on: Jun 10th, 2003, 12:15pm » |
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Kari - From the NORVASC website:
NORVASC is a type of medicine called a long-acting calcium channel blocker (CCB). NORVASC is used to treat high blood pressure (also called “hypertension,” “high-per-TEN-shun.”) It is also used to treat a type of chest pain called angina ("ANN-ji-nuh" . Angina is often a pain or pressure in your chest that keeps coming back when part of your heart does not get enough blood.
NORVASC works to relax your blood vessels. This lets your blood flow more easily and helps lower your blood pressure. This means that blood pressure can be lower, and angina pain can be reduced or controlled.
Looks to me like this drug is extremely similar to Verapamil, which is what a whole bunch of us here take to calm the beast. Might be worth investigating for those of us for whom Verapamil may have become ineffective. Thanks!
Bill
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Always remember that you're unique, just like everyone else.
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Ueli
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Hi Kari,
It's good to hear you found something that helps both your problems. Norvasc (amlodipine besylate) is a calcium channel blocker, and as such not only useful to treat heart conditions but also an excellent preventative for cluster headaches. In fact, calcium channel blockers (most use Verpamil) are the CH preventative of first choice and many have great success with them.
Therefore, since you've "tried everything under the sun", I'm a bit surprised that Ca blockers didn't help you before.
PFNAD's
Ueli
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Not4Hire
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...WAS PF since Oct.'02, but ...oh my...(CBusters)
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Re: Norvasc...fly in the ointment....
« Reply #3 on: Jun 10th, 2003, 6:11pm » |
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...as *they* say: there's always a fly in the ointment....
FWIW (for what it's worth)... I take Norvasc, (5mg/day at night) as well as Tenoretic 100/25 (Tenormin) which is atenolol (100mg?)+chlorthal (25mg?) in the morning for hyper-tension (high blood pressure) ....and it has NO effect on my CH...... I also take Indomethacin (Indocin) for arthritic knees (skiing, bike wrecks, etc.) ....and it has also NO effect on my CH... 
.....so YMMV (your mileage may vary) ......
I guess what I'm saying is: if it works for ya.... ROCK ON.... be it acupuncture, chiropractic, Peruvian Butterfly Farts, flagpole construction, Verapamil, TheDietOfCloisteredMonks, crack, grittin-yer-teeth-and-bearing-it, yadda.....
hope y'all find yer key... still lookin' fer MINE.....
Steve(N4H)
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Mantra: This will NOT kill me...This will not KILL me... This will not kill ME...
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BILLY
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That's interesting, When you say you've tried everything does that include other CCCBs like verapamil? If so at what dose?
CCBs are further divided into types:
2 main types it seems are dihydropyridines & non-dihydropyridines but breakdown even further:
Dihydropyridines (e.g. nifedipine and nimodipine)
phenylalkylamines (e.g. verapamil - non-dihydropyridine)
diphenylalkylamines (e.g. flunarizine)
benzothiazepines (e.g. diltiazem)
Norvasc seems to principally be a dihydropyridine but does say it "binds to both dihydropyridine & nondihydropyridine binding sites".
I think the different CCB types generally cause different side effects, dihydropyridines more peripheral edema (e.g. ankle swelling) & flushing & headaches (non CH headaches) while nondihydropyridines like verapamil principally can cause more constipation.
Anyone want to break this down any further?
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soccormom55
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I love YaBB 1G - SP1!
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Re: Norvasc
« Reply #5 on: Jun 11th, 2003, 2:20pm » |
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Thank you for all the replies...I have taken Verapmile, Depakote, Prednsione, Imetrex, (tablets, nasal spray and injections) and have tried 02 along with some others I can't remember...nothing worked...why this is working for me now...who cares....it's working (knock on wood) I don't know what is in these meds, so I did not know that it was similiar to other meds! I was just letting everyone know about something that I found that worked for me and maybe it could work for others! ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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BILLY
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Don't get me wrong, I'm glad you finally found something that works!
The reason behind the questions is merely to try to find out why so that others can be helped & perhaps your treatment success can be optimized &/or sustained.
Norvasc 10 mg is the maximum dose for its indications (I don't think any drugs have CH officially as indications for usage at least in the US).
Verapamil max dose according to the PDR is 480 mg I believe but it is known that CHers may need 800mg+ & a few over 1gm! There is also immediate release, steady-sustained/extended release, & Controlled Onset Extended Release 24 hr formulations. Of course don't ever change your dose of anything without first consulting your doc since it can cause major problems.
So it would be interesting if you could find out what dose of verapamil & which formulation you took...
Maybe the dose of verapamil wasn't high enough for you or the formulation wasn't right (many CHers seem to do best with immediate release verapamil for some reason while some prefer the other formulations) or maybe you benefited from Norvasc's binding to both dihydropyridine & nondihydropyridine binding sites or some other particular property of amlodipine(chemical name)/Norvasc(trade name).
In any case thanks for sharing!!
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soccormom55
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Re: Norvasc
« Reply #7 on: Jun 11th, 2003, 3:27pm » |
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I will try and find out the dosage, but that was 4 years ago and 4 neurologists ago as well, but I am sure my current one has my records...so, I will give him a call tomorrow and find out. I was put on this drug for my heart and the side effect was no CH....not a bad side effect if you ask me! I take two .5 mg tablets at night along with a childrens aspirin! My ch should have started about 3 weeks ago...they are the same time every year! and so far nothing it is great...i feel free..i can even have a drink this summer  Thanks...Kari ;D     ;D
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BlackDog
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Re: Norvasc
« Reply #8 on: Jun 12th, 2003, 4:58pm » |
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Hi Kari,
Very interesting. I had my first cycle last summer. I was on Norvasc for 8 months last year immediately before my first ever CH. My GP took me off of it and put me on Toprol instead, when I saw him for the HA. He said Toprol also helps with Migranes. He has kept me on it since. I hope the Norvasc (or whatever is doing it) continues to work for you.
Darren
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Ueli
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BlackDog,
your doctor is correct, Toprol (metoprolol succinate) should help to prevent meegraines, as it is a beta blocker. 
However, the track record of beta blockers for clusters is far from good. The preventative of first choice for CH are calcium channel blocker. IMHO, you should insist to go back to the Ca channel blockers, unless your other condition make the beta blockes mandatory. If necessary hint who is paying and who collects.
PFNADs
Ueli
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BlackDog
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Re: Norvasc
« Reply #10 on: Jun 12th, 2003, 7:27pm » |
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Ueli,
This is all so new to me. I indeed will look into this. I am getting the feeling that it is ME who must start managing my care. I have a strong family history of Heart-CAD / Stroke / BP, hence the beta-blockers
I will say that my life has been so much better on Toprol. Until my first go with Imitrex the other day, Toprol was my favorite drug. It slowed my whole world down just a bit. And It gives me pleasent dreams, lots of them. That is, when the GDMFGD beast lets me be...
Darren
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