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        New Message Board Archives >> 2002 Posts >> beta or calcium channel blockers?
        
(Message started by: Hale on Nov 5^th, 2002, 2:16am)

Title: beta or calcium channel blockers?
Post by Hale on Nov 5^th, 2002, 2:16am

I'm on Prednisone & Imitrex. ONCE tho'...awhile back...a pain doc prescribed me either a beta blocker, or calcium channel blocker. It worked...tho' only that one time. Since then, I've had to try other options. Anyone know which of the heart meds I mentioned are the better? Imitrex treatment now...but the beta blocker or whatever, completely kept the headaches in check. Who's had luck with the heart meds? Which one, and how much?

Title: Re: beta or calcium channel blockers?
Post by SteveY on Nov 5^th, 2002, 2:50am

The drug you require is verapamil.

It is one of a group of drugs called calcium channel blockers.

Check the links on the OUCH website, there are 100's of them.

Cost? don't know, but it's not expensive.

Steve

Title: Re: beta or calcium channel blockers?
Post by Charlie on Nov 5^th, 2002, 5:40am

It's been years for me, and while not many here have had success with Inderal (Propranolol), which is a beta-blocker, it helped me eons ago. There are scores of others, as Steve said.

Stick around. You'll get lots of replies.

Welcome aboard.

Charlie

Title: Re: beta or calcium channel blockers?
Post by SFChris on Nov 5^th, 2002, 10:11am

Hale,

My doctor originally put me on a beta-blocker (Inderal -Propranolol). It didn't do squat for me other than making it difficult to exercise because I always felt like I was about to pass out. Verapimil (calcium channel-blocker) is the way to go. A lot of us have had good success with it.
Best of luck to you.

Chris

Title: Re: beta or calcium channel blockers?
Post by Jabeen on Nov 5^th, 2002, 8:30pm

My neuro initially tried Inderal and then Verapimil-I'm sure because those are 2 meds that seem to work for many. Neither worked for me and I spent weeks as they gradually upped the doses and then to wean off and try the next. I was so optimistic with each try-sure one would work for me. But no. Then she tried Wellbutrin which is technically an anti-depressant (SSRI)-if that hadn't worked , we would have just kept trying...but that one worked. I then had a 5 year hiatus from CH-but when they returned, I immediately went back to the Wellbutrin. I figured I had nothing to lose, if it didn't work this time, I would have to keep trying. But it worked immediately (as soon as I got to the max dose) I experience shadows now and then-but no CHs. There are hundreds of stories here-this is just mine. I wish it could be that "simple" for everyone.

Title: Re: beta or calcium channel blockers?
Post by oringkid on Nov 6^th, 2002, 10:17am

Not to change the subject, but, I have a question that maybe Bobp or one of you can answer. When my doc was trying me on antidepressants (for depression, not ch), he told me that there were 2 chemicals in the brain that they worked with to cure depression, one was seratonin and the other was one that started with an "n" I think. When he put me on the first drug, it was one that only dealt with the seratonin...I don't even remember what it was but I remember him saying that it was in the same class as prozac. That drug made my depression even worse. He said some of the drugs were to (basically) manipulate the seratonin levels, some were to manipulate the "n" stuff levels and some worked with both. The Wellbutrin that he finally put me on was one of the ones that worked with both. And that stuff was wonderful. Cured my depression like magic. My question is what is the name of that other chemical in the brain and what, if anything, could it have to do with our CH.
I figure if seratonin is a factor, this other stuff would be too.

Thanks

Sherry

Title: Re: beta or calcium channel blockers?
Post by Ueli on Nov 6^th, 2002, 10:49am

Verapamil (a Ca channel blocker) is the CH preventative of first choice.
The most important points are:

The regular (instant release) version works better than the extended release form
Clusterheads usually need a much higher dose than heart patients. Dr Goadsby says: up the dose until the attacks are suppressed. That can go up to 960 mg / day

If a doctor prescribes beta blockers for CH he either mixes them up with meegraines or didn't do his homework or both. True, a few clusterheads had success with beta blockers, but generally they bring nothing but the nasty side effects.

PFNADs
Ueli