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        New Message Board Archives >> 2003 Posts >> elavil for cluster headaches
        
(Message started by: dolmance31 on Jun 6^th, 2003, 11:07pm)

Title: elavil for cluster headaches
Post by dolmance31 on Jun 6^th, 2003, 11:07pm

i am so glad i came to this site! i read about elavil to treat my cluster headaches!!! i calle my neurologist, and she gave me 25 milligram tablets 3 times a day. the very fgirst day i woke with a shadow, and took my 3rd pill for the day. i got up amnd paced expecting the worst, but instead, it faded right out!!! i had been using oxycodone and diluadid to kill the pain. unfortunately i had to take 75 milligrams for it to work, and then it made me so dopey and itchy, nearly went mad. i have tried every single narcotic as well as imetrex, cafergot, and various other headache remedies with NO success. i don't understand why the elavil works, but it is way cheaper than stadol or oxycodone, and i have none of the itchyness and nausea associated with the opiates. this is my 3rd day headache free. i will see if i can go the remaining 3-6 weeks without a headach. i will be posting soon.

Title: Re: elavil for cluster headaches
Post by BobG on Jun 7^th, 2003, 4:01am

Welcome to the message board. Have you tried verapamil as a preventative or oxygen as an abortive?

elavil is an anti-depressant........that's a maybe med for clusters. But you say it helps, good.

oxycodon is a narcotic analgesic........bad choice for treating clusters. Most pain killers do nothing for clusters and can make the worse. Also habit forming.

diluadid is also a narcotic analgesic and just as bad as oxycodon.

Then you use the words narcotic and opiates.........

If you're getting prescriptions from your neuro for this stuff, IMHO you should fire her and get a neuro that has at least a faint idea what a cluster headache is.

Please let us know more.

Title: Re: elavil for cluster headaches
Post by Live4Fun on Jun 7^th, 2003, 11:56am

I am on a combo of Verap (am) and Elavil (pm) as a preventative. It was working great until I was told to stop taking the Verap. Now back on both meds again, but in a cluster from being told to stop the Verap.

Maybe their is something to this Elavil thing. I know it is a newer treatment, but in combo with other meds like Verap, perhaps it could work. Or even by itself for some... (not for me unfortunatelY)

Good luck with the Elavil. Let us know if it turns out to be a good stand alone Preventative as well. 8)

Title: Re: elavil for cluster headaches
Post by klp on Jun 7^th, 2003, 12:26pm

you might want to try the combination of neurontin and elavil. they compliment each other and usually relieve neuropathic pain effectively. many people cant take neurotin because of the sluggish side effect but many others dont seem to have this problem. I did this combo about 5 years ago with great success but after a while the feeling tired all the time got to me. i was using 1800mg a day. most md's start at 300mg which wont do shit imho. we use 2400mg with elavil or pamelor to treat nerve pain in cancer patients and have success. most are able to go off their morphine with this combo. sorry for rambling. im no expert here and have learned alot so far from everyone, just thought i would throw my 2 cents in. krista

Title: Re: elavil for cluster headaches
Post by kim on Jun 7^th, 2003, 12:48pm

you mention an assortment of medications that were prescribed to you. It sounds like the doctor is not very familiar with clusters......

glad the elevail is helping.

The best thing you can do to help yourself deal with and treat clusters is to learn as much as you can about it. There is a TON of information available at this site, thanks to the hard work and dedication of some outstanding people. My advice is to investigate this entire site in its entirety, print out the information, and bring it with you to the Neuro. If the neurologist is worth a dime of your money, he/she will work with you on this.

Hey...yer gonna get SICKER using narcotics for clusters! Trust me. Been there done that.
Good luck and well wishes********

Title: Re: elavil for cluster headaches
Post by oringkid on Jun 7^th, 2003, 12:51pm

Elavil is actually an old treatment. It was one of the first things they put me on way, way back. Didn't do anything for me, but everyone is different.

Sherry

Title: Re: elavil for cluster headaches
Post by Ree on Jun 7^th, 2003, 4:12pm

Sherry you beat me to it... great minds think alike I guess. That was one of the first things that they put dave on for a preventative... and I was also put on it as a preventative for migraine but beware a side effect is weight gain............. 11 lbs later I went off it call me vain but.................. Im only 5 ft tall people not alot of space to put the extra lbs. love ree

Title: Re: elavil for cluster headaches
Post by Karla on Jun 7^th, 2003, 7:10pm

Live4Fun just posted that he to is having sucess with verepamil and elevil. What dosages are you having this sucess at? I would like to know. Elevil is not one medicine that I have tried. Thanks.

Title: Re: elavil for cluster headaches
Post by PINKY BABY on Jun 7^th, 2003, 9:03pm

:-/hi, i have wondered about a chemical imbalance in the brain affecting the ch for a while now. i have noticed that about 2-3 days before a cycle starts, i get a deep, i mean a very deep empty feeling of depression. i am chronic, and i have been for about 2 years now. my family dr put me on prozac, and i have noticed that the cycle is not as intence, or as long. the difference is not much, just enough for me to notice. maybe there is something to this elavil. i am going to talk to my family dr about it. i can't affor d to see my neuro any more. i have no ins. , and he is 200.00 a pop. thanks for the info. pinky

Title: Re: elavil for cluster headaches
Post by Live4Fun on Jun 7^th, 2003, 10:00pm

Karla, I sent you an email, but I'll post it here too... I am on a 120mg Verapimil and 10mg Elavil regiment right now. With that combination I was PF for almost a year (which was the longest I have been without pain since the CH set on 10+ years ago.)

Pinky, you are not alone in feeling down during a cycle. It happens to me too, as a matter of fact right now. I think mine stems from the fact that it is just a little hard to enjoy life when you afraid to go anywhere or fall asleep for the fact that the demon might appear. The small dosage I am on of Elavil right now is not helping with the depression, but with an upped dosage it may help.

Title: Re: elavil for cluster headaches
Post by katethecelt on Jun 8^th, 2003, 5:54am

Welocome aboard.

Look into preventative meds - there are many posted here and on the Medications/Treatments section. I hope the Elavil keeps working for you!

Don't be shy about posting questions or venting. This is family.

Pain Free vibes to you,

Kate