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        New Message Board Archives >> 2004 Cluster Headache Specific Posts >> Are cigarettes self-medication?
        
(Message started by: M on Oct 29^th, 2004, 4:34pm)

Title: Are cigarettes self-medication?
Post by M on Oct 29^th, 2004, 4:34pm

After a few years of recurring headaches, I finally had a doctor say the words Cluster Headache about 6 months ago. After ten days of non-stop pain (unending shadows with spikes of level 10 pain) I finally aborted the headache with a cigarette. I smoked the cigarette because others on this site said that they aborted headaches with cigarettes. (I've been pain free for six months.)

I have a theory. Could it be that cigarettes are a form of self-medication?

Many clusterheads report relief from pain when they smoke a cigarette. Also, the percentage of clusterheads who have been smokers is about 47%. This is much higher than the national average. Many researchers say that there is a correlation between cluster headaches and smoking. Many clusterheads will tell you that there is a correlation.

The things that I have read about imply or conclude that smoking must be a contributing cause. However, could it be the opposite? Could the underlying condition that causes cluster headaches also be the thing that drives people to smoke?

Maybe smoking is a form of self-medication. Perhaps the nicotine or some other mechanism provides some sort of relief. Perhaps clusterheads reached for cigarettes long before they had any attacks because they were trying to regulate some internal imbalance in neuro-chemistry. This would have been a subconcious craving, not a conscious one. Let me illustrate by describing a more common form of self medication.

I have a friend who used to use cocaine. She is extremely intelligent and competent, but she turned to cocaine when she was in her late twenties and thirties. She was later diagnosed with an imbalance in neuro-checmistry. That is, her body was not regulating the level of neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, very well. Of course, when she was taking the cocaine, she was not consciously trying to balance herself. It was a subconscious craving to put things right, to feel better. Not high. Better.

She might have said, "I just need to pick myself up." To the average person, this might seem like a lifestyle choice. But over years, my friend learned that no, there was a physical reason. Ask any person who has destroyed their life with cocaine or alcohol if that was their goal. Many will tell you no, they just couldn't control themselves.

The fortunate ones eventually get professional help. Ironically, many of those people eventually move to prescription drugs to alleviate their demons. They move from cocaine and alcohol to drugs such as Prozac.

Could the same be said for clusterheads? Is the higher than average use of tobacco and alcohol a symptom rather than a cause?

I have more thoughts on this, related to the relationship between tobacco/alcohol and neurtransmitters and hypothalamic functions. For now I will conclude with this thought. Could it be that tobacco is providing immediate relief, but long term aggravation? That is, like other forms of self-medication, could it be that tobacco alleviates immediate imbalances (either in vascular pressure or in neurotrasmitters), but at the same time contributes to long term imblances that increase susceptibility to cluster headaches?

Thoughts anyone?

Title: Re: Are cigarettes self-medication?
Post by nani on Oct 29^th, 2004, 4:42pm

Nicotine is a vaso-constrictor and like caffiene can, in some sufferers, help ease the pain of a vascular headache. Hypothalmic (dis)function is common in substance abusers. I personally have been trying to medicate myself with various and sundry substances for years. ;;D Just my [smiley=twocents.gif]
Welcome and I'm sorry you are here.

Title: Re: Are cigarettes self-medication?
Post by unsolved1 on Oct 29^th, 2004, 6:37pm

Medication... Yes, Somebody would need some medication if they tried to take away my cigs. When i'm ready to put them down, i'll let you know.

Price of 1 pack of Marlboro in:
Chicago, IL. ~ $5.59
Ann Arbor, MI. ~ $5.25
Louisville, KY ~ $3.00

Unsolved
PS. Cigs may help emotionally but not physically.

Title: Re: Are cigarettes self-medication?
Post by kissmyglass on Oct 30^th, 2004, 9:22pm

Can anyone in Louisville send me some marlboros?? ;;D $5.00 a pack in CT....time to quit....

K

Title: Re: Are cigarettes self-medication?
Post by E-Double on Oct 30^th, 2004, 10:50pm

on 10/30/04 at 21:22:30, kissmyglass wrote:

Can anyone in Louisville send me some marlboros?? ;;D $5.00 a pack in CT....time to quit....

K

NYC is upwards of $7 yucks!

On LI I still get me sticks for $4.5

Title: Re: Are cigarettes self-medication?
Post by don on Oct 30^th, 2004, 11:47pm

Been using these guys for years.

Carton of Marlboro $14.95. Free shipping.

www.yesmoke.ch

Title: Re: Are cigarettes self-medication?
Post by nani on Oct 31^st, 2004, 12:48am

I pay $9.50 a carton for a not bad tasting native american cigarette (kinda Marlboro like) on the reservation!!! [smiley=biggrin.gif]

Title: Re: Are cigarettes self-medication?
Post by alan_nickie on Oct 31^st, 2004, 5:06pm

just as well you dont live in the uk ,cigs- £4.80, petrol and diesel -84p a litre

Title: Re: Are cigarettes self-medication?
Post by Kris_in_SJ on Oct 31^st, 2004, 8:30pm

I don't think I'm much different from most clusterhead smokers - a cig certainly doesn't abort a HA, but it sure tastes good and calms me down once the HA is over!

BTW - For those of you like me in expensive states (Michigan just raised the tax again) - just Google "cheap cigarettes." All you need is a credit card ......

Kris

Title: Re: Are cigarettes self-medication?
Post by Grandma_Sweet_Boy on Oct 31^st, 2004, 8:54pm

It's what keeps me semi-sane! ;;D Cigarettes in Canada for an 8 pack carton - 25 cigs. to the pack $63.98! If you buy them separately it's anywhere from $9.50 to $10.00 per pack depending on the mood of the store owner!

Title: Re: Are cigarettes self-medication?
Post by Ree on Nov 1^st, 2004, 5:01pm

MY HUBBY IS A BUTT FIEND AND HE HAS NEVER ABORTED A CH WITH A CIGARETTE... NOT SAYING IT CAN'T BE DONE, BUT BY THE CHAIN SMOKING I SAW AT THE NY CONVENTION... YOU GUYS WOULD BE CURED........... REE

Title: Re: Are cigarettes self-medication?
Post by Matrixman on Nov 4^th, 2004, 7:11pm

I like this theory that the inbalance leads to the addiction! Maybe that is so. I smoke when the devil is about, but all it does is calm me down a little.
At the beginning of this episode coffee just turned the thing off completely, and kept me up for the rest of the night.
Does anyone else have a post CH euphoria, before exaustion sets in (week 2)?

Title: Re: Are cigarettes self-medication?
Post by inyoureye on Nov 4^th, 2004, 8:02pm

Not raising an argument, just my personal experience, but I can tell that if I had a cig at certain times, it can be a trigger. I smoke about a pack a day and the cig after a 45 minute bout is about as satisfying as the one after sex or dinner but if the shadows are looming, I know to cut back. I will consciously smoke considerably less. Also, if I don't wait till the CH is totally subsided, the butt will bring it back. The way I've also assumeed it to be is that a cig robs o2 from the blood, and I/we all know how beneficial 02 can be.
I also had the same thought process when I would have my head stuffed in a pillow for a k3-4, (any higher and I'm knneelin or standin') re-breathing all the exhaled co2.`

Title: Re: Are cigarettes self-medication?
Post by kcorrigan on Nov 4^th, 2004, 8:44pm

I don't particularly care for cigs when I'm in cycle. In fact, I decided to quit this time around.

By the way, I can get 3 packs of Marlboros for less than $9 in Ohio.

Title: Re: Are cigarettes self-medication?
Post by Ueli on Nov 5^th, 2004, 12:23am

I'm sure, sooner or later Charlie will jump on this thread, to deliver his usual diatribe on smokeing. But he should consider this cartoon first ;;D

http://assets.bravenet.com/common/images/cartoon/daily/300.gif

Title: Re: Are cigarettes self-medication?
Post by K-9 on Nov 5^th, 2004, 3:28am

I agree with M on the fact that smoking helps a little with the "now" part of things but long term, no good.

As far as inyoureye, my sentiments exactly!!! What you described is me. I am chronic and have been that way for 11 years. I quit smoking new years eve going into 1999. My findings?......9 attacks in jan, 5 in Feb, 3 in mar,.......pain free for apr, may, june, july, aug, sept and then, I began smoking in October of the same year, again it took a few months to get back into my system and began having Ch in January of 2000.

My conclusion, after an attack, I just want a cig, helps with constriction and calming, but if I can endure a few months without this crutch, FOR ME, staying off the cigs can mean PF times.

I'm working on quiting again. You all know how hard it is anyway, and with the CH, forget about it.

Title: Re: Are cigarettes self-medication?
Post by Matrixman on Nov 6^th, 2004, 12:12am

On prices; In Aus we pay Canada like prices for smokes and almost nothing for prescription drugs.
Go the national health scheme.

Title: Re: Are cigarettes self-medication?
Post by sailpappy on Nov 11^th, 2004, 10:03am

[smiley=huh.gif]Gave up smoking many many years ago, after seeing first hand the destruction they do to people, well I would say self destruction--not self medication! Pappy :-/

Title: Re: Are cigarettes self-medication?
Post by angel-ache on Nov 13^th, 2004, 3:22am

I stopped smokin this cycle too Katie!! I have been a smoker for 10 years. Been CHn' for 13 years. I decided that I had enough with smokes. I am in enough pain now, that in 30 years I don't want to purposly inflict more pain on myself to boot!

I stopped mid cycle...cold turkey. (Huge thanks to butter-rum lifesavers) I didn't smoke for 3 weeks prior to halloween. But, halloween I had 2 smokes out at the bars. That is the hardest. And I haven't had one since.

I feel pretty isolated right now. I had to cut my drinkin so very very much. All my friends drink and hang at the local tavern. I won't. I need more time to become confident in not smoking.

Grind grind grind...

Angela

Title: Re: Are cigarettes self-medication?
Post by Testy1 on Nov 17^th, 2004, 8:10am

Well, I smoke but cigarettes don't do much for me when I'm wandering around howling and cursing.
On the other hand, I have used the nicotine patches as an abortant and they help. I slapped two of the large (30cm) ones one me one night and they cut the expected intensity way down. Of course, if you don't smoke already, two of those big patches will probably poison you so I don't know if this is a good idea or not.
The other down side is that you can't go to sleep with that much nicotine in your blood.
I've tried this several times since then and it seems reliable. They won't completely stop it but they do reduce the intensity.
The problem is the dosage. I smoke already and have a tolerance to nicotine. If someone didn't have that tolerance they might have big problems, there are some hellish warnings on the label of those patches and I think they aren't kidding.

Regards

Jack.

Title: Re: Are cigarettes self-medication?
Post by marcelonyc on Nov 18^th, 2004, 12:39am

I stopped somking a maybe a year ago or so, but started during this cycle. It is just my way of giving myself permission to indulge. Now during attack, forget cigarettes, i have no desire. But then again maybe there's some desperate idea there. Imagine?? Smoking instead of 02??

AS far as imbalance and drugs. Yes drugs once upon a time relieved the inability to accept the world as it was for me. Not today. They have caused a lot of damage and by choice I am sober. I had the CH during the addiction and now after. Had I known...only kidding, really.

:o :o

Title: Re: Are cigarettes self-medication?
Post by allan_r on Dec 5^th, 2004, 12:01pm

[quote author=nani link=board=chspecific;num=1099082078;start=0#1 date=10/29/04 at 16:42:52]Nicotine is a vaso-constrictor

This may help with the pain, especially in the eye. I like the idea of the patch though.

allan r

Title: Re: Are cigarettes self-medication?
Post by Redd715 on Dec 5^th, 2004, 12:23pm

It was quitting cold turkey in Feb of this year that morphed this beast on me. I was doing great at not smokeing. Then a month later, whammmm.....before this I'd get hit for a day maybe two, every couple weeks. Quit smokeing and I was at the doc on day three of non stop attacks, and that kept up for 10 more weeks. I started smokeing once again during this time when the GP mentioned brain tumor and I had to wait a week before the MRI. Figured if I was dying of a tumor that my lungs really didn't matter anymore.

My specialist feels the abrupt change in brain chemistry was the catalist in this morphing as sit did. YMMV [smiley=twocents.gif]

Title: Re: Are cigarettes self-medication?
Post by MzBlackIce on Dec 7^th, 2004, 8:33pm

I'm a smoker and doing so when having a CH makes me nauseous (sp?). My room mate smokes also and while having a CH I walked in the room while he was smoking and immediately left. However, when the CH is on the down slope having a ciggie is calming.