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        New Message Board Archives >> 2004 Cluster Headache Specific Posts >> Cafergot to Abort????
        
(Message started by: wingnut04 on Apr 22^nd, 2004, 2:06am)

Title: Cafergot to Abort????
Post by wingnut04 on Apr 22^nd, 2004, 2:06am

Hey All,
First i hope this finds EVERYONE here PF.
I have mentioned Cafergot to abort an attack but nobady has else has said anything about it. As I understand it Cafergot is 1mg ergo and 100mg caffeine.
I'm tellin' ya, it has worked wonders for me to abort. Obviously being a pill ya gotta get in ya quick. The coating is sweet so I suck em' till the sweet goes away then swallow it. Don't know if that means anything or not though.
If I feel the "twinge" in my lower wisdom tooth area (that's where they always start for me) and get Cafergot in me fast, I usually go from the "twinge" to PF in no more than 20 mins. AND they have been a lot less intense.

Two ?'s.............

1. Any comments on Cafergot?

2. Since I'm getting fewer attacks now, do you think it may have taken the Preds longer to kick in for me. Been on em' for 9 days, noticed a differance after about 6-7 days?

If your head sometimes feels like it's been run through a food processor..............You might be a clusterhead!

Title: Re: Cafergot to Abort????
Post by wingnut04 on Apr 22^nd, 2004, 2:20am

Forgot to mention....
The Doc said long term use is not good. Possible probs with the liver (I think) and after a while could cause rebound headaches. The Doc told me no more than 5 a week but the info that came with em' said no more than 10 a week.
I got em' on Monday and have used 3 so far (damn)

Title: Re: Cafergot to Abort????
Post by Bob P on Apr 22^nd, 2004, 9:47am

Wingnut,
I've used cafergot for my clusters for the past 25 years. Last cluster I wnet through the triptans, imitrex, amerge, zomig, maxalt, but after the frustration of fighting the insurance companies to pay for the amount I needed, I went back to the cafergot. At least the stress was gone and my attacks settled into a regular schedule which was easier to manage.

I usually take 20-30 tabs a week when in a cluster. I know it's more than the 10/wk that they say but the only side effect I get is cold fingers and toes from the reduced circulation.

Never heard of the liver side effect. The main risk is taking too much and getting ergotism which can lead to gangreene and loss of some didgets.

They used to make a ergot inhaler that was really cool but I think it's gone now. They also used to make a cafergot suppository that worked really quick. Jonny used to call them his magic bullets. They may still be around but I just don't want to take the time to stick something up my butt when I have an attack coming on.

My trick last cluster was to take a tab of cafergot at the first twinge of an attack and then hit the O2. The O2 holds the attack down to a 2 or 3 untils the cafergot kicks in. Worked really well.

Title: Re: Cafergot to Abort????
Post by Thorns on Apr 22^nd, 2004, 9:43pm

on 04/22/04 at 09:47:00, Bob P wrote:

....I just don't want to take the time to stick something up my butt when I have an attack coming on.

LMAO [smiley=laugh.gif] [smiley=laugh.gif] [smiley=laugh.gif] Sorry, couldn't resist!

Thorns

Title: Re: Cafergot to Abort????
Post by maryo on Apr 23^rd, 2004, 12:11pm

Hi,

I also use Cafergot to abort. For faster effect, chew it. Absorption through the mucous membranes of the mouth is faster.

Title: Re: Cafergot to Abort????
Post by Bob_Johnson on Apr 23^rd, 2004, 1:47pm

While I'm glad it works for you, there are two disadvantages: stomach acid neutralizes some of the ergotamine and that route of absorption is slower compared to using,

Ergomar. This a 2mg tab placed under the tongue so that the ergotamine is absorbed more quickly. The key to success with it is to get it in your mouth at the earliest sign of an attack; don't wait until it developes fully.

But, as I have posted several times, Zyprexa has replaced Ergomar for me because it's more consisently effective in aborting an attack.

Title: Re: Cafergot to Abort????
Post by hreslingozer on Apr 27^th, 2004, 8:40pm

Cafergot has worked well for me but I have to be real careful not to go over my 10/week limit. The problem is when I hit 10 and it's only 5 days in.

Title: Re: Cafergot to Abort????
Post by stevegeebe on Apr 27^th, 2004, 10:12pm

After Depakote, Frove, Trex, Prednisone and a bunch of other crap was not working, me and my doc increased my Verap to 720 mg per day added 1800 mg of Neurontin per day and "one to two tablets Cafergot every morning and one tablet as needed for headache".

Stopped a six month cycle in about two weeks.

Was it headed out anyway? Don't know. I did not care. It was gone.

Good luck Wingnut. Talk to your Doc.

Steve G

Title: Re: Cafergot to Abort????
Post by wingnut04 on May 1^st, 2004, 7:58pm

Thanks Everyone.......
We decided to stop Cafergot due to the side effects and the likelyhood of it developing "rebound headaches".
Changed to Imitrex nasal. Had great results the first 2 times. The last 3 times I still suffered at least an hour. Today was two hours. Tried not to take anything cuz I've been snorting and chewing Imitrex like crazy since Tuesday. Finally I chewed a pill.........
Back to the Dr. on Tuesday. I need something that will abort.........this is getting ridiculous!

Title: Re: Cafergot to Abort????
Post by BlueMeanie on May 4^th, 2004, 6:48pm

Sounds like the few ppl who replied that Cafergot works for an abortive are pretty lucky. Or i'm just NOT lucky. Used it for years prior to triptins. Never work for me at all. Waste of time & cash.