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(Message started by: sd19731 on Oct 23^rd, 2002, 6:02pm)

Title: verapamil question
Post by sd19731 on Oct 23^rd, 2002, 6:02pm

ive been taking verapamil for about three weeks, it stopped my latest clusters, i havent had a headache for about a week. when might it be safe to stop taking the verapamil ?

thanks, steve

Title: Re: verapamil question
Post by jonny on Oct 23^rd, 2002, 6:12pm

Never!!!.....if your chronic.

If your episodic try cutting your dose in half if you think your out of cycle.

Just to be safe why dont you give your Doc a call just to be sure its cool to do so.

Good luck, Bro

.............................jonny

Title: Re: verapamil question
Post by Jim R on Oct 23^rd, 2002, 6:48pm

Ditto on Jonny's post. I'm en episodic and and I stay on it year round (but it also helps my high blood pressure), but even if I didn't have high blood pressure, I'd be very cautious cutting back until you;re pretty certain you're out of cycle. BTW, a four week cycle is pretty short, so I'd be doubly cautious.... Good luck!

Jim R

Title: Re: verapamil question
Post by domm on Oct 23^rd, 2002, 7:24pm

Steve - I've been on Vera since mid August. After about a week and upping the dose from 120 mg/d to 180 mg/d, I was pain free. Have been so ever since.
Went back to the Doc when I suspected my cycle was over and asked him how to get off. He told me to stay on it. The low dose wouldn't hurt me, but he did agree to take it down to 100 mg/d. This would allow me to double it to 200 should another cycle start up.
I'm debating whether or not to continue taking it because I don't like to take meds I don't need, but when the HAs hit, I'm damn glad for them.
The other advise I've read is to continue taking it for three or four weeks after you are absolutely sure the cycle is over.
Good luck in your decision
domm

Title: vera my vera... i luv ya baby
Post by rumplestiltskin on Oct 23^rd, 2002, 10:54pm

...during my wierdest cysle ever a year and a half ago I started datin Vera...when we started seein each other everyday my ch started ceasing...I kept uppin our relationship till we were at 300 1X/day...all CH activity ceased till a week ago...one true CH and some _shodowing...I upped my relationship to 240 2X/day...I'm once again one smilin PF sumbitch. I have no intention of ever stopping my daily relationship with VERA....surely not to "see if I still get clusters"...we'll see......I'll keep ya posted....you do the same.

I learned of Vera at this site....gotta keep the gift flowing

Walk in the sunshine
den

Modification: Jim asks a good question below....If ya ain't got no pain...how do you know yer in/out cycle?...I'm ASSUMIN i'm always in...so I stay on VERA...and it "feels" like i'm always out.

Title: Re: verapamil question
Post by Lori on Oct 23^rd, 2002, 11:36pm

i used verapamil until i was sure my cycle was over. doc told me to stay on it for at least two weeks after i was sure it had ended. at that point we gradually lowered the dosage. i did as suggested and no ha's. i am episodic though and only have a cycle every 2-3 yrs.
i think you should check with your doc to see what he suggests.

pfdan

Title: Re: verapamil question
Post by Jim R on Oct 24^th, 2002, 6:56am

I've got a question: if verapamil is doing its job, how do you know your cycle is over? That's always been my dilemma....if I'm not having CH's is it due to the drug regimen or due to the fact that I'm going out of cycle. Hate to stop the drugs just to find out I was wrong... I used to figure I start in Sept. and end in Jan., but this year I started in July....now what? Still Jan.? Or, am I slowly going chronic?

Jim R

Title: Re: verapamil question
Post by sueellen83 on Oct 24^th, 2002, 7:08am

Hey Steve,

I too am episodic and take Verapamil. Great stuff!!! Stopped the CH's in their tracks. My neuro. told me to continue taking it for 2 months after I had no shadowing or break through pain. ( which I haven't had Thank God). I echo Jonny, though. call your Dr. and ask him to be sure what They want you to do.

Jim, I'm wondering the same thing. Usually start CH in Oct. and go 'til Jan. but, they started in Aug. this year. Strange.

Title: Re: verapamil question
Post by Jim R on Oct 24^th, 2002, 7:33am

Sueellen - Yes - strange - it's thrown me all off kilter. I wonder how many other people who normally start in Oct. started early this year?....maybe it's a phenomenon! LOL! - Jim R

Title: Re: verapamil question
Post by Ueli on Oct 24^th, 2002, 9:20am

Of course, Jim - El Niño ::)

When I was still episodic, the neuro said he couldn't see a point in stopping Verapamil during remission. As I am on quite a high dose (560 mg/d) I dropped it to 320 during remission. Advantage: at he start of a new bout it only took 2 days t kick in again after upping the dose.

PFNADs
Ueli

Title: Re: verapamil question
Post by Jim R on Oct 24^th, 2002, 9:33am

LOL Ueli! I KNEW there was a reason this year!!

That sounds like a good idea about dropping it a bit during remission. I have never done this in the past, but then was only on 240 anyway, but I was already planning on dropping down from my current 480 back to 240 when the cycle ends (if I can tell). Then, as you say, will only take a couple of days for the increased dose to kick in when I need it and MIGHT even slow the body from getting used to it and making that dose ineffectual, as apparently happened when my 240 dose didn't cut it anymore.

PFDAN's to you too! - Jim R

Title: Re: verapamil question
Post by sueellen83 on Oct 24^th, 2002, 10:15am

LOL ;D ;D ;D, Jim and Ueli,

If my normal 3 month cycle is going on then, this should be the last week. :D
We shall see !!!! Still having shadows though.

Title: Re: verapamil question
Post by Lori on Oct 24^th, 2002, 5:50pm

As far as when do you know your cycle is over..I guess everyone may be different but I still had twinges and knew I was in cycle during medicating. So, I waited for two weeks after not feeling anything on my left side of my head before weaning off the meds. I wouldn't even consider staying on that stuff during remission. For one, I don't like taking medication and two I'd be afraid it might not work as well the next cycle. I only have in the past had cycles every 2-3 yrs though and if i had a couple cycles a year I would probably think alot differently about that! I guess it depends on each individual and the way the cycle. I did find and believe that taking the medications prolonged this last cycle. My cycles always use to last 6 weeks..always. I never had meds until this last cycle and it lasted 3 months. I must admit that I'd rather have it last longer though with little pain than 6 weeks of pure torture.

Title: Re: verapamil question
Post by Jim R on Oct 24^th, 2002, 6:00pm

What you say makes perfect sense, Lori. If given a choice of a longer cycle with reduced pain or a shorter cycle with more pain, I think most of us would choose the former. I stay on verapamil for its blood pressure lowering effects, but I too want it to retain its CH pain and frequency properties, therefore, although I stay on it year-round, I want to reduce milligrams/day when not in cycle. Hopefully, I can teel when that is this year, since the cycle is atypical. PFDAN's to you and good luck!! Jim R

Title: Re: verapamil question
Post by Jim R on Oct 24^th, 2002, 6:01pm

...that should be pain-reducing properties! LOL - Jim R

Title: Re: verapamil question
Post by Lori on Oct 24^th, 2002, 9:28pm

Jim,
I pray it continues to work for you. At least it does give you some other benefits while not in cycle. I wish none of us even had to suffer with this monster. I