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broomhilda
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verapamil dosage question
« on: Jan 30th, 2004, 10:36pm » |
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Hi everyone, I have a question about increasing my dosage of verapamil and any feedback would be be greatly appreciated!!!!!  I am currently on 75 mg of Topamax and just started on 160 mg of verapamil two days ago and things are ok( still clustering)so, I want to go up to 240 of verapamil, is it to soon? Can I ramp up on the verapamil anytime or do I have to wait? HELP!!!!!!!!!! Any feedback from your experiences would be helpful, thanks! 
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TxBasslady
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Re: verapamil dosage question
« Reply #1 on: Jan 30th, 2004, 11:48pm » |
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Sorry, but I can't answer that one for ya.
You might best call your Doc, and see what he/she says.
You might read some of the other threads and get more info.
Jean
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broomhilda
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Re: verapamil dosage question
« Reply #2 on: Jan 31st, 2004, 12:10am » |
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Thanks Jean! He has never tried verap for clusters before but listened to me when I said my research told me it may work so he said try it, so he is going with me on this so I hope someone out there can help, I will go in some threads and look! Thanks, he was concenrned about dosage cause I am small...?????  I will keep looking and thanks so much!!!! Have a great night!
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5-string
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Re: verapamil dosage question
« Reply #3 on: Jan 31st, 2004, 11:45am » |
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Hi Broomhilda,
I was on 240mg of Verapamil and the only side effect for me was slight "lightheadedness" when I stood up fast or bend over to tie my shoes..etc.. but it worked.
I don't have any experience with Topamax so I don't know how they mix but the Verapamil was fine. I'm 125 lbs.soaking wet as well.
Welcome to the board,
...Mark..
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beasley
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Re: verapamil dosage question
« Reply #4 on: Jan 31st, 2004, 1:12pm » |
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I am currently on 720mg a day of Verapamil along with 100mg of Topamax. I am not 100% pain free but I feel Verapamil has helped me get a handle on my life again. I am chronic so I deal with this almost every day. Since I have been on Verapamil the headaches have been less intense. The Topamax is something new my doctor has added to the mix. I have not been on it long enough to have any opinion.
The side effects that I have noticed from the Verapamil have been fatigue and constipation. Contact your doctor if you notice any heart palpitations – I had them until my body adjusted. Good luck
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t_h_b
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Re: verapamil dosage question
« Reply #5 on: Jan 31st, 2004, 4:35pm » |
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When I went from verapamil 240mg once a day to 480mg twice a day, I experience chest tightness and shortness of breath when walking up stairs or steep slopes. I didn't tell my MD and it went away in a week or so.
Especially in light of what happened to Tracey, anytime you're taking a drug that affects your cardiovascular system of any type, you should follow your physician's and pharmacist's instructions, not alter (increase OR decrease) your dosing with your physician's knowledge, and notify him or her of any side effects immediately.
It also pays to ask for and read the information insert for physicians that comes from the manufacturer with all prescription medications. Usually your pharmacy tosses it but you can always ask them for it. You can skip the chemistry part if you want but you need to know the rest of the information. Don't get upset over the possible side effects--in many studies the placebo seems to have a fairly high rate of side effects as well.
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| « Last Edit: Jan 31st, 2004, 4:40pm by t_h_b » |
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No, it's not a headache--it's a Stage Ten Primary Chronic Periodic Idiopathic Trigeminovascular Cephalalgic Crisis.
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broomhilda
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Re: verapamil dosage question
« Reply #6 on: Jan 31st, 2004, 7:31pm » |
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Thanks, so much for your feedback I went up today just to 240 as I have had no effects on the lower dosage, will keep you all posted!!!!!
I do have to say, any one get strange aches in the kidney area-am I getting a stone from the topamax?????God I hope not!!!!! This place has been wonderful, I will go follow some threads!!!!!!
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west17m
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Re: verapamil dosage question
« Reply #7 on: Jan 31st, 2004, 9:27pm » |
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If you can get a hold of the half-life of [whatever drug you're taking], it also helps you figure out when it's more safe to ramp up the dosage.
My $0.02 USD
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Prense
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Re: verapamil dosage question
« Reply #8 on: Jan 31st, 2004, 10:16pm » |
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Stones is a common side effect for topamax...drink tons of water. As said previously, altering your dosage on prescribed medications is done at your own risk. Hopefully, no one here will advise anyone to take medications in a manner other than as prescribed by a doc.
Keep in mind that verapamil can take as long as 10-14 days to notice any effects on your HAs. I do feel that your dosage is quite low for a CH preventative.
Regards!
Chris
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beasley
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Re: verapamil dosage question
« Reply #9 on: Feb 1st, 2004, 12:29pm » |
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Of course never increase your medication without your doctor’s blessing. My post was just meant to express my experience with that drug combination a higher doses.
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broomhilda
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Re: verapamil dosage question
« Reply #10 on: Feb 1st, 2004, 1:03pm » |
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Hi beasley, let me clarify, my gp gave me the go ahead to inrease after a couple of days if I did not get lightheaded on 160 mg's of verap and told me to go to 240, if I was ok, it just seemed too soon so I posted here forothers feedback first in case it was too soon..., thats all!
Just wanted to see if it was too soon from others experience, it is a low dose but he has never prescribed it for CH before, so I wait till next week for the neuro and see what he will do!
Thanks everyone!  I appreciate the feedback
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beasley
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Re: verapamil dosage question
« Reply #11 on: Feb 1st, 2004, 1:16pm » |
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Good luck! A couple of weeks on the higher doses of verapamil helped me. Hope you see the same results.
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Stevieray
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Re: verapamil dosage question
« Reply #12 on: Feb 1st, 2004, 3:46pm » |
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My MD started me out on 120mg verap twice a day for 2 weeks the upped the dosage to 120mg 3 times a day. I am also on 300mg of Lithium 3 time a day since the second week of the 120x3 verap. I am a bit light headed and bunged up but it is far better than headaches. I also take 1000mg of a Vitamin B complex as well as 100mg each of D and E daily. I have been PF for 17 days now.
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Wifeofchman
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Re: verapamil dosage question
« Reply #13 on: Feb 2nd, 2004, 10:20am » |
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I've used 480mg of cr verapamil and 1200mg of lithium and have been HA free before but it does make you quite shakey and lightheaded at times. Try to limit sudden movementsas this will cause most of the dizziness. "The Man"
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Carrie
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Major_Headcase
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Re: verapamil dosage question
« Reply #14 on: Feb 2nd, 2004, 11:16am » |
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imho 240mg of verapamil is the minimum you should be taking for CH prevention, even taking your size in consideration. The "normal" dosages of verapamil are given for its use in lowering blood pressure, the dosage needed to fight the beast is quite a bit higher.
I'm still fairly new to CH, my 1st cycle I took Verapamil 120 X3 (360mg)/day, next cycle I had to go up to 480/day, and last cycle my MD bumped it up to 720mg/day. Taken in conjunction with a BIG blast of Prednisone for 2 weeks, CH abated in a few weeks and after a month I tapered off the verapamil back to 240mg/day ... which I now take daily both to lower my blood pressure and to hopefully prevent/lessen my next CH cycle. Few to no side effects for me with the Verapamil, unlike the Prednisone which did a number on my ability to sleep and made me "Grouch of the Year"!
Good luck with your treatment, give the Verapamil at least 2 weeks to kick in. -John
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dnafe
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Re: verapamil dosage question
« Reply #15 on: Feb 2nd, 2004, 12:49pm » |
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Hi
I was introduced to Verapamil 4 years ago by Dr. Nelson, who by the way is doing research into Cluster Headaches here in Ottawa (Canada) at the General Hospital Neurosciences Clinic
We started at 240 but quickly moved up to 480 within two weeks. That dosage seemed to hold things at bay for about three months.
I then started getting CH's at night so we then added Cafergot at night and that took care of things for the next two months.
We then dropped the Cafergot and after a month dropped the Verapamil back to 240, and after another month dropped the Verapamil all together.
During that time I had headaches for the first three weeks and then again for the first week that I was taking the cafergot.
Not bad!
Then two years ago they reared their ugly head again and I went right to 480...grand total # of headaches over the next six months - TWO!!! and I was able to have the odd glass of wine...YES!!!
This year the hit in July and I went right to 480 and that cut them off completely (but no alcohol this time round)
Unfortunately a number of breakthroughs started in December so we added the Cafergot...seemed to work as headaches have been few and far between...so far so good. I'm still in the midst of a cycle but can't complain.
Also I'd like to mention I use Migranol spray for breakthroughs when they do happen and although it generally doesn't work with CH sufferers it does for me, completely dissolving a starting headache or reducing the intensity of one in progress by 50%.
just my $.02 DCN
Don
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broomhilda
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Re: verapamil dosage question
« Reply #16 on: Feb 2nd, 2004, 10:43pm » |
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Wow, thanks to everyone for all your feedback!!!!!!
I am left wondering if the dosage of 240 is too low being in the fifth week of my cycle, I know its too early in the stage of verapamil,guess I am desparate and don't want to wait two weeks for the effects to take in, but should I consider asking the dr if he recomends of course to go up? I guess I will see what the neuro says.... I will be asking to go off the topamax, its nasty!  . I am so glad to see many of you are pain free and will keep you posted!
Thanks again for all your feedback!!!!!! Take care!
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violet
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Re: verapamil dosage question
« Reply #17 on: Feb 5th, 2004, 3:14pm » |
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My neuro upped my verap with no problem, at the drop of a hat. I was on 180 SR and he upped me to 240, then 240 twice a day. I felt kinda light headed for a couple of days till my blood pressure adjusted, but no problems after that.
Vi
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