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        New Message Board Archives >> 2004 Cluster Headache Specific Posts >> Needing advice
        
(Message started by: crazy_mj on Oct 4^th, 2004, 9:37pm)

Title: Needing advice
Post by crazy_mj on Oct 4^th, 2004, 9:37pm

I went to the neurologist friday for my two month check-up, and he increased the dose of my verapamil from 120 to 240. I started taking them on that day, and by Sunday I was in serious trouble. I could not get my heart to calm down, it was racing so fast, like right after you get an adrenaline rush. This went on from about two p.m. until eight p.m. I thought I was going to die. I also constant pressure in my head like when you have a head cold, and my body was burning up on the inside and freezing on the outside. I took my pulse at one point and it was around the 110-120 range.
I called the doc this morning and they told me they wanted to reduce my dose from the 240 to 180, and what I had felt was just a "nasty little side effect". I told them that I would take the 120 for now until I could make my way to the pharmacy.
About thirty minutes after taking it my heart began to race again. This lasted for about an hour this time. I called again, and was told to start taking the 180 dose now.
Has anyone else ever had a side effect like this??? Should I continue to do what the doctor says?

Title: Re: Needing advice
Post by Superpain on Oct 5^th, 2004, 4:31am

No one in their right mind is going to say "Don't do what the doc says"...
I have not heard of anyone reporting that side effect from verap... But that doesn't mean much...
It seems sort of backwords to me since it lowers the BP... [smiley=huh.gif]
If the effect is too uncomfortable, I would discuss alternative treatment.
Did it help the CH at all?

Title: Re: Needing advice
Post by karma on Oct 5^th, 2004, 7:34am

Hi MJ
I took 240 mg/ day for the first time a couple months ago and had the same thing for a couple days. It felt like a real adrenailine rush for a couple hrs. Then it was gone.

Title: Re: Needing advice
Post by crazy_mj on Oct 5^th, 2004, 8:36am

The low dose of verapamil had kinda kept the attacks in check for almost a month. But they had started in again real hardcore last month, so that was why he increased the dose.
Actually I thought it would lower my BP too, but on my first visit before the verap. my BP was like 70/120 and now it is 80/140 before the increased dose.
I don't know man, the side effect sucks pretty bad.

Title: Re: Needing advice
Post by netniet on Oct 5^th, 2004, 1:48pm

Im getting 240 mg when i just start taking the meds I had mild headaches feeling cold most of the time. And Sometimes it feels like my heart is jumping.

I think your body needs to get used to verapermil.

Ninet

Title: Re: Needing advice
Post by RPS on Oct 5^th, 2004, 2:06pm

I got a similar effect when I increased my Verapamil dossage to 480. I would get shortness of breath and my heart would race or feel like it was beating heavier. This would happen after meals or even after walking a few blocks. I stopped taking it cause when this would happen it would trigger a HA. Plus it didn't feel right.

After I stopped taking it the symptoms went away. I was also on the tail end of my cycle so I am not sure if stopping the med actually did anything to make my cycle longer. I told my Doc and they said maybe we'll do a Prednisone taper for my next cycle.

Title: Re: Needing advice
Post by hoosierdaddy on Oct 5^th, 2004, 2:49pm

I'm taking 180 Verapamil and I have the same side effects. My heart rate has been up to around 90 for several hours but I am staying with it. I think anxiaty might have an impact as well. I do deep breathing, long slow breaths in through the nose and out the mouth.

Good luck,

Title: Re: Needing advice
Post by Tom on Oct 5^th, 2004, 6:33pm

Hi MJ,

you definitely need an ECG!

In a person with normal electrical heart conduction system verapamil should slow down the heart rate, but not so in individuals with certain types of accessory conduction fibres.

In some individuals there are special heart conditions, they posses accessory conducting fibres that connect atrial and ventricular myocardium outside of the normal conduction axis of the heart. Two of the concerning syndromes are cold Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome and Lown-Ganong-Levine Syndrome.

In persons with either a WPW or the Lown-Ganong-Levine Syndrome verapamil can cause a dangerously rapid heart rate, it can reach up to ±200 beats/min and even lead to a sudden death.

Speak to your neurologist and try to consult a cardiologist, the a.m. syndromes should be ruled out urgently!

Thomas

Title: Re: Needing advice
Post by Kris_in_SJ on Oct 5^th, 2004, 8:46pm

Ditto to Thomas ...

Verapamil's primary purpose is to slow down and regulate the heartbeat. It's just per chance that it also helps with Cluster Headaches.

If your heart is experiencing the opposite effect, it needs to be evaluated ASAP. Don't increase your dose until you've had that done.

Take Care,

Kris