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Topic: Aggressive Treatment (Read 353 times) |
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DerbyDemon
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Pardon me. Is that a dagger in my head?
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Aggressive Treatment
« on: Oct 6th, 2004, 12:55pm » |
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In an earlier post I asked about the effects of Frova. After having been on that and Depakote for two weeks I found that my HAs increased from 1 or 2 a day to 4 or 5 a day.
My neuro is a big believer in aggressive preventative and abortive treatment. I've been in my current episode since the beginning of June, by far the longest since diagonsis five years ago. After two weeks of heavy Dexamethasone taper, I'm down to infrequent shadows. Here is the rest of my daily drug cocktail:
Verapamil 960 mg
Topamax 500 mg
Indomethacin 200 mg
Wellbutrin 300 mg
Seroquel 50 mg
Paxil 30 mg
Yes, I was a smoker which the Wellbutrin is helping me control. I also had a frequency of stess which the Paxil keeps in check (for those who are experiencing heart palpatations with their Verapamil - I had the same experience, had EKGs and everything checked out fine/normal and my blood pressure is quite normal with every visit as is my blood work).
Some of these medications were increased during the episode, but all have been taken as preventatives during "the good times." Which lasted over two years.
Anyway...just parting with some of my experience.
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thomas
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I'd be careful with the welbutrin and paxil....... keep an eye on behavioural changes and and physical changes as well.
http://members.aol.com/atracyphd/syndrome.htm
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| « Last Edit: Oct 6th, 2004, 2:13pm by thomas » |
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Margi
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Re: Aggressive Treatment
« Reply #2 on: Oct 6th, 2004, 3:34pm » |
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on Oct 6th, 2004, 12:55pm, DerbyDemon wrote:My neuro is a big believer in aggressive preventative and abortive treatment.
Verapamil 960 mg
Topamax 500 mg
Indomethacin 200 mg
Wellbutrin 300 mg
Seroquel 50 mg
Paxil 30 mg
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no shit, Sherlock - at those dosages it's amazing you can even form a sentence! Why the heck does he have you on Indo if you're a clusterhead? Indo helps CPH, not CH. Man, it ticks me off when these doctors treat you guys like voodoo dolls/guinea pigs.
I typed in all meds to a drug database and here are the interactions you need to watch out for.
"3 potential interactions were found for the drugs you selected.
You searched for interactions between the following drugs:
Indomethacin
Paxil
Seroquel
Topiramate
Verapamil
Wellbutrin
Add or Delete Drugs
Start Over with a New List of Drugs
(Note: Not all drug interactions are known or reported in the literature, and new drug interactions are continually being reported. This information is provided only for your education and for you to discuss with your personal healthcare provider. )
ALCOHOL may interact with VERAPAMIL
Although the cause of this potential interaction is not fully understood, intolerable or otherwise undesirable side effects may occur when verapmil is taken with alcoholic beverages or alcohol-containing products (such as some cough syrups and elixirs). These side effects may include drowsiness, difficulty making decisions, and loss of balance. yyyyyy If you are taking verapamil, it would be advisable to limit the amount of alcohol that you consume. Discuss this potential interaction with your healthcare provider at your next appointment, or sooner if you think you are having problems.
This interaction is poorly documented and is considered moderate in severity.
Last Updated: December 2003
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PAROXETINE HYDROCHLORIDE (in Paxil) may interact with INDOMETHACIN
A possible side effect from indomethacin (especially with chronic use and the use of high doses) is gastrointestinal bleeding or the development of ulcers. Although the cause of this interaction is not clearly understood, paroxetine, when taken with indomethacin, may increase this risk of gastrointestinal bleeding. If possible, avoid taking paroxetine with indomethacin. If you must take these medications together, your doctor should monitor you closely for gastrointestinal side effects and adjust the dose of these medications if needed. Discuss this potential interaction with your healthcare provider at your next appointment, or sooner if you think you are having problems.
This interaction is poorly documented and is considered moderate in severity.
Last Updated: May 2004
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VERAPAMIL may interact with GRAPEFRUIT JUICE
Grapefruit juice may block the breakdown of verapamil by the stomach. This could cause an increase in verapamil blood levels and increase the risk of side effects. Side effects of verapamil include constipation, low blood pressure, and gum problems. You should avoid taking verapamil with grapefruit juice or any products containing grapefruit juice. Discuss this potential interaction with your healthcare provider at your next appointment, or sooner if you think you are having problems.
This interaction is poorly documented and is considered moderate in severity."
Thomas is entirely right, as well.....quite a few clusterheads have had problems with antidepressants. You have a seratonin imbalance and, for some reason for some clusterheads, the anti-d's can really mess up the delicate balance that you have.
Please be careful!!
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| « Last Edit: Oct 6th, 2004, 3:40pm by Margi » |
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1MajorPain
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Pain is not my friend!
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Re: Aggressive Treatment
« Reply #3 on: Oct 6th, 2004, 6:24pm » |
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Remember...Cluster Headaches won't kill you, but some of the drugs they give you will!
Major
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Gator
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Re: Aggressive Treatment
« Reply #4 on: Oct 7th, 2004, 12:39am » |
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on Oct 6th, 2004, 3:34pm, Margi wrote:
Keep digging Watson!  Sorry. Couldn't resist.
Geez, what a screwy cocktail!
Verapamil - relaxes blood vessels & lowers blood pressure
Topamax - anti-seizure
Indomethacin - anti-inflamatant
Wellbutrin - anti-depressant
Seroquel - for manic depression and schizophrenia
Paxil - anti-depressant
Does your doc think you're schizo-suicidal or something? You should be one mellow fellow with all those anti-depressants in your system. Not to mention dumb as a bag of hammers with Topamax thrown in the mix. I hated that crap - made my headaches worse and I lost like 50 iq points of which I think I have only recovered about 30.
Indomethacin will eat a hole in your stomach on it's own at high doses and/or over long periods of time. Combining it with something that makes it worse seems questionable on the doctors part, especially since indomethacin doesn't usually work for CH. If he's bound and determined to keep you on something like that, he should have at least have you taking some kind of stomach acid reducer.
Heart palpitations with Verapamil is listed as Rare or Uncommon, on the other hand one of the side effects of Seroquel and Topamax is heart palpatations. You sure this is not what is causing the palpitations?
I know getting rid of the pain is very important to all of us, but I'd study up and be careful and ask questions if something strikes you as odd.
Just my two cents worth.
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don
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Do not believe for one second the Paxil MFG. claim that the drug is not physically addicting. I had a hell of a time coming off that shit.
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