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Title: VIOXX Post by Chronic on Jul 14th, 2004, 1:08pm Don't know if this is going to help others...but Ijust read a new article in shape magazine of all places. Vioxx has been approved for use with Migraine sufferers. Well, I just started that whole thread about Prednisone and how I had enough of it. After reading this blurb, i titrated down on Prednisone and took Vioxx instead. No headaches in 3 days. I'm going to see my neuro tomorrow, so I'm going to have a long discussion with her. Others might have already posted this in the past, but I'd much rather be on VIOXX than Prednisone. I'll post an update as soon as I can. PF days to all. |
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Title: Re: VIOXX Post by E-Double on Jul 14th, 2004, 1:09pm As a preventative?? |
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Title: Re: VIOXX Post by Chronic on Jul 14th, 2004, 1:29pm E - Yes as a preventative. Also, just read your post about a NY doctor. I live in NY and have been going to Dr. Ian livingstone in Princeton NJ. It's a freaking trek, but he's been great for the last 12 years. Recently I have had the awesome luck of potentially turning Chronic. Dr. Livingstone wanted me to get a 2nd opinion so he is sending me to Dr. Mark Green at Columbia Prespreteria in NYC. He's supposed to be tops in the field. It may be tough to get an appointment with him, but their is another Neuro who works with him Dr. Remmes. She is good too. Just a suggestion. I've never heard of the doctor you asked about. |
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Title: Re: VIOXX Post by floridian on Jul 14th, 2004, 1:50pm Cyclooxygenase 2 (cox2) is involved in many inflammatory responses. Here's research that shows that cox2 inhibitors can reduce two of the bad actors associated with clusters - substance P and CGRP. It also reduces nitric oxide. In the first abstract, nerve injury resulted in increased SP and CGRP, but cox inhibitors brought things back closer to normal. There are many dietary substances that are natural cox2 inhibitors - cherries, turmeric, green tea, conjugated linoleic acid, resveratrol (in grape seed, peanuts, polygonum herb root) all turn down cox2. The second article evaluated anthocyanidins (the pigments that give plants their color) and catechins (found in green tea, some other plants). On this board, JMorgan has long argued that a 'detox diet' helps with clusters. The more I read, the more I start to think he is right. Eating a diet composed largely of fruits and vegetables can have the same effect as downing Vioxx or Celebrex, with fewer side effects. A choline deficient diet increases cox2 activity. We know that choline levels are low in clusterheads, although it may be from metabolic problems, not diet. But choline supplements might turn down cox2 gene activity. Choline is also the building block of the neurotransmitter Acetylcholine, which is anti-inflammitory and can reduce some of the bad actors in CH. The choline deficiency in clusters was described in 1984, but never followed up with any Einstein experiments to see if taking a choline supplement might improve things. Doh! Quote:
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Title: Re: VIOXX Post by E-Double on Jul 14th, 2004, 1:57pm I was using Vioxx along with abortives originally(goes to show ya what some docs do as compared to others). If ever read some of my posts the med thing is still new to me..... Anyway good to know about the NY thing. Appreciate it. Went to a new guy this morning and appeared to know his stuff (atleast based on what I read here and the research I've done) Posted a med question (on the other board though) Are ya in Manhattan? Good luck!! Eric |
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Title: Re: VIOXX Post by eyes_afire on Jul 14th, 2004, 6:58pm Floridian, I have long been curious about acetylcholine and CH and have expressed it on this board. Ever since I saw the reports from an Italian friend who had hopes that Aricept may ultimately be useful for CH. He used to post it on this board several years ago. Do you know how Aricept effects acetylcholine? From what I know, it kinda acts like 'an acetylcholine reuptake inhibitor'... but I could be wrong. If I'm not mistaken, acetylcholine works in balance with serotonin. I'm not entirely convinced that serotonin is the main culprit in CH. I also have much interest in 'acetylcholine and sleep and CH and fat metabolism and vitamin A'. I usually hate to speculate without a solid theory. Are you aware of anymore reports of clusterheads trying Aricept? --- Steve |
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Title: Re: VIOXX Post by Kris_in_SJ on Jul 14th, 2004, 9:27pm As always, your research is really appreciated Floridian. I'm wondering though, if Vioxx might be yet another med that works for some but not for others? I've been on Celebrex for the past 2 years for an injury and subsequent arthritis in my hip (which is greatly exacerbated by sitting all day at a computer). Despite this, I still had a virulent CH cycle, that was only shortened by my cluster cocktail (Verap & Pred). And I still had plenty of kip 10's that required Imitrex. So maybe it works for some, but not all? Kris |
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Title: Re: VIOXX Post by floridian on Jul 15th, 2004, 9:09am Quote:
That's likely. While the pain is similar in most of us, the way we get there varies. Lithium is great for some, does nothing for others - and the presence of a single gene is 90% accurate in predicting lithium response. Melatonin helps around half of us, does nothing for the others. Aricept (donepezil) has been shown to prevent migraines (see abstract below). That doesn't prove it will help with clusters, but it is encouraging. Aricept is a cholinesterase inhibitor - it blocks the enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine. This means that when a nerve secretes acetylcholine, it stays around longer and has more effect. Aricept is a reversible inhibitor (which is good) - several pesticides and nerve agents are irreversible cholinesterase inhibitors. There are some irreversible inhibitors that are used as medicines, but controlling the dose is critical and the risk of side effects are greater. Quote:
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Title: Re: VIOXX Post by seannap on Jul 19th, 2004, 5:13am I too have been on Celebrex for the past couple of months, and it has severely minimized my HA... the ones that I do have are mild on the kip, with only a few in the 7-8 during "that time"... I sugest that anyone try it... as the side effects are relatively low - especially in comparasin to some of the other stuff that seems to be part of the cocktails around here. The good thing about Vioxx and Celebrex - you don't need to take it but once or twice to know if it does or doesn't work for you. It will let you know! My doctor (GP) actually has a number of CH patients. All but one or two of them are on celebrex. |
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Title: Re: VIOXX Post by don on Jul 19th, 2004, 7:30am The active ingrediant in Vioxx is rofecoxib, an anti inflammatory. Ch begins in the hypothalamus gland and effects the trig. nerve and dialates blood vessels. Nothing to do with infamed tissues or muscles. Vioxx may help you deal with an attack but I highly doubt it's effectiveness as a preventative or abortive either 1,2, or 3 line. Quote:
My guess is the prednisone has worked well for you. |
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Title: Re: VIOXX Post by floridian on Jul 19th, 2004, 1:44pm Quote:
By that logic, lithium should not work because clusters have nothing to do with manic depression, depakote should not work because clusters are not epileptic siezures, and olanzapine should not work because we are not atypical psychotics. Cox2 inhibitors can inhibit substance P and CGRP. They help with migraines. Those facts make cox2 drugs worthy of research on clusters. We don't know that they are what helped Chronic stay PF 3 days after the taper off - as you said, it could just be the prednisone. It could be randomness. But this is the type of anecdotal evidence that could be useful. Give us an update, Chronic? |
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Title: Re: VIOXX Post by Kris_in_SJ on Jul 19th, 2004, 8:35pm Wouldn't it be nice if CH were kind of like Otitis Media? If Ampicillin didn't work, then probably Tetracycline or a Sulfa drug would? The more I read, the more confused I become. I guess I'm just grateful that my particular "cocktail" works for me. My wish is that it would work for everyone. Still much research to be done ..... Kris |
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Title: Re: VIOXX Post by E-Double on Jul 19th, 2004, 9:07pm Quote:
The psychologist I've been seeing suggested him and was trying to pull some strings. I guess I'll give him a shot if I can get on his list E |
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Title: Re: VIOXX Post by don on Jul 19th, 2004, 9:48pm Quote:
Again I believe that those meds that you have mentioned only help the suferer to deal with the pain with the possible exception of the lithium. I doubt they have any preventative or abortive value. |
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Title: Re: VIOXX Post by floridian on Jul 21st, 2004, 10:51am Although not investigated and not proven, its plausible to think that cox2 inhibitors might act as preventive meds for cluster headaches. Specifically, cox2 inhibitors reduce production of Prostaglandin E2. PGE2 stimulates CGRP release. CGRP is involved in the vascular changes in both migraine and clusters. Can cox2 inhibitors prevent cluster headaches? Dunno. Maybe in some people. Only time will tell. |
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Title: Cox2 inhibitors and paroxysmal hemicrania Post by floridian on Jul 21st, 2004, 3:45pm Cox2 inhibitors can prevent paroxysmal hemicrania headaches. Quote:
Quote:
At minimum, some people with very cluster-like symptoms may have paroxysmal hemicrania. At the heretical extreme, maybe CH & PH (and migraine?) are all part of the same disorder: Quote:
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Title: Re: VIOXX Post by pam s on Jul 24th, 2004, 12:32am on 07/14/04 at 21:27:35, Kris_in_SJ wrote:
AFAIK, Vioxx did nothing for me. |
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Title: Re: VIOXX Post by pam s on Jul 24th, 2004, 12:38am on 07/19/04 at 13:44:24, floridian wrote:
Floridian, IIRC, lithium, depakote, the benzodiazapines, as well as lamictal, seroquel, skullcap, among other things, all protect the brain by suppressing glutamate, increasing GABA, and thereby preventing cell death. Also, IIRC, overproduction of glutamate is associated with CH -- is that right? I've taken a benzodiazapine and depakote before, with little effect. Pam |
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Title: Re: VIOXX Post by pam s on Jul 24th, 2004, 12:42am on 07/19/04 at 13:44:24, floridian wrote:
Floridian, IIRC, lithium, depakote, the benzodiazapines, as well as lamictal, seroquel, skullcap, among other things, all protect the brain by suppressing glutamate, increasing GABA, and thereby preventing cell death. Also, IIRC, overproduction of glutamate is associated with CH -- is that right? I've taken a benzodiazapine and depakote before, with little effect. Pam |
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Title: Re: VIOXX Post by pam s on Jul 24th, 2004, 12:43am on 07/14/04 at 21:27:35, Kris_in_SJ wrote:
AFAIK, Vioxx did nothing for me. |
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Title: Re: VIOXX Post by floridian on Jul 24th, 2004, 9:39am on 07/24/04 at 00:42:51, pam s wrote:
Pam, I see your point. There is a cascade of chemicals that flow in a cluster (glutamine, serotonin, cgrp, nitric oxide, interleukins, etc). Stopping only one of them might be like putting a dam over the middle 20% of a flooding river. But some of these chemical are probably the triggers for others - some meds do work. My point in this thread is not to be the devil's advocate - I said "Although not investigated and not proven, its plausible to think that cox2 inhibitors might act as preventive meds for cluster headaches." I don't know if they help - I am simply arguing against dismissing COX2 inhibitors because of theory. The fact that they help with migraine is enough to give them some consideration, given the similarities between migraine and cluster, and the fact that many migraine meds help with clusters. The fact that some people here seem to improve when taking them is also worth considering, although it could be random variation in the course of the headaches. Ultimately, the proof is in the pudding. |
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Title: Re: VIOXX Post by pam s on Jul 25th, 2004, 2:21am on 07/24/04 at 09:39:37, floridian wrote:
Amazing, considering how I garbled it -- I was actually just checking with you to see if what I had gleaned was correct. Reading pub med abstracts is like teaching myself Greek. (Some of those words are not in the dictionary, you know!) I do think it is silly, with all the off-label applications of meds, to assert, despite evidence to the contrary, that they cannot work for anything other than what they were initially used for! I have a book on alternative COX2 inhibitors I am planning to wade through soon. (But if I make my husband take any more supplements he's going to bolt.) Pam |
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Title: Melatonin blocks cox2, 5-LO Post by floridian on Jul 26th, 2004, 2:16pm Among other things, melatonin blocks cox2, nitric oxide, and 5-LO (5-lipoxygenase, an inflammatory enzyme similar to cox2). It could be co-incidental, or it could part of how melatonin works. Quote:
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Title: Re: VIOXX Post by brokenfingers on Jul 30th, 2004, 12:37pm It seems that there can be some very bad side effects as a result of using Vioxx, see below http://www.mn015c1411.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Lawsuit_Vioxx.htm |
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Title: Re: VIOXX Post by eddie on Aug 12th, 2004, 11:10pm my neruo gave me vioxx and effexor {slept 2 hrs a night NOT ME } made me feal like crap effexor is one thing that had me so messed up and vioxx didnt even hit any pain i had effexor is dangerous its serintonin reuptake and earaches i have are killer and it made those whorse thats why i dont see him anymore i had bad head trauma in a head on wreck as a child my ha and eaches always on the right side the pain in my ear has cleared up but the ch are still here i have tried alot of stuff so much its hard to keep up o2 does help im learning just like the rest alot of these meds are bad for us i can tell what this stuff does to me and its not good i do try to play ch off but thats not easy when they grinding on my head but i do read alot of post to educate myself |
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Title: Re: VIOXX Post by ex_pat_asia on Aug 13th, 2004, 1:56pm on 07/30/04 at 12:37:33, brokenfingers wrote:
NSAIDS are notorious for the list of side affects at the url. Unless I am foregtting something it looks like the usual litany. Yet, that shouldn't prevent digging deeper into the possibilities here. Quote:
Floridian, it seems to me then that Melatonin would be a better choice then Vioxx as a starting place for Cox2 inhibition? The latter is also getting a bum rap for high blood pressure (see following) http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=healthNews&storyID=5927928 For me that would be an issue thus leading me back to the melatonin. I had been thinking on giving melatonin a trial but was drawn to it for reasons of sleep regulation rather then cox2 and 5-LO inhibition. Also, I agree with your connect-the-dots to EPH and Migraine. The following connects two of the dots in a single patient: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=10759906 I'll start the melatonin tomorrow, adding it to the 480 mg verapamil and the Betamethasone taper. Immigram and Relpax have all but drifted into irrelevancy for me...Oxy is now the only effective aborter. It is a bloody anchor and I need to get back on the road for my business. Thanks as always Floridian...superb search skills. |
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