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        New Message Board Archives >> 2005 Cluster Headache Specific Posts >> What Can I take if I want to have a Drink 
        
(Message started by: Don_Juan on Jan 18^th, 2005, 9:08pm)

Title: What Can I take if I want to have a Drink
Post by Don_Juan on Jan 18^th, 2005, 9:08pm

Hello everyone,

I used to take some advil before having a drink and that worked until my tolerence for the advil was so high. Keep in mind I was also taking it in the middle of the night as well (this is before I found out that I have clusters). I went to the doctor and he gave me predisone and verapamil. That got rid of the headaches but made my blood pressure to low and wierded me out. I did go out and have a few drinks without a H/A but once off the predisone I again couldn't have a drink without getting a cluster. The verapamil still helped at night but my heart just didn't feel right and I didn't seem to care about anything. I quit taking the verapamil and of course the H/A are back! I plan on asking my doctor for oxygen for the night time hits and was wondering if there is anything you can take if you want to drink a few beers. I'm talking on special occassions, like 3-4 times a year. I've accepted that I just can't have a beer like everyone else on the weekend.

Thanks, Don

Title: Re: What Can I take if I want to have a Drink
Post by nani on Jan 18^th, 2005, 9:42pm

A lot depends on whether it's a trigger for you only during an episode, or if you're a chronic that gets CH fom drinking. You can only know that for sure if you have a drink a few of days after you're sure your episode is over. And that doesn't mean that it will be the same way forever. One thing is sure...things change.
BTW Advil won't help hold off a CH, nor will it ease the pain from one.

Title: Re: What Can I take if I want to have a Drink
Post by RichardN on Jan 18^th, 2005, 11:25pm

All three of the bars I go to stock Busch NA (non-alchoholic) for me. I was a Busch drinker anyway, and you really can't tell the difference . . . . have tried some of the other non-alchoholic beers . . . so far, most of the others . . . I'd just as soon do without.

Title: Re: What Can I take if I want to have a Drink
Post by Don_Juan on Jan 19^th, 2005, 12:09am

I agree with you on the advil (liquid gells). I was eating them like candy and (at that time) they did work if I took enough of them (stopped at 2000 mg). I knew they were going to eat a hole in my stomach if I didn't stop. I also think taking so many caused my headaches to become chronic and become more frequent. I wouldn't reccomend it to anyone!

ps. since i've been getting the H/A again after getting off the verapamal I did try advil one night thinking my tolerence might be low again and 800 mg didn't do crape. In fact I had more shadows the next day which I usually don't get in the day(unless I take a nape or were to drink a beer). THis is when I started thinking that maybe all the advil I was taking prior to being diagnoised was only making it worse (becoming cronic).

Title: Re: What Can I take if I want to have a Drink
Post by nani on Jan 19^th, 2005, 12:13am

Probably less about becoming chronic and more about rebounding.

Title: Re: What Can I take if I want to have a Drink
Post by JoeS on Jan 19^th, 2005, 7:59am

Quote:

Probably less about becoming chronic and more about rebounding.

Yep. Check out this thread in the medications section:
http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=meds;action=display;num=1106065339

Specifically, here's the link that nani posted: http://www.montana.edu/wwwebm/Archives/DrugReboundHA.htm

By the way, I can't even THINK about having a drink when in cycle. Fortunately for me, I'm episodic with relatively short cycles, and I can drink when in remission with no problems.

Title: Re: What Can I take if I want to have a Drink
Post by Redneck on Jan 19^th, 2005, 7:02pm

I am episodic and love my beer :). But when in cycle I cant touch anything with alcohol. A few weeks after I am REAL sure the cycle is over I can drink what I want.
But then I am weird, even reading to much can trigger a headache. I like to read as much as I like beer ;;D

Title: Re: What Can I take if I want to have a Drink
Post by unsolved1 on Jan 19^th, 2005, 7:38pm

A trip to Nashville worked for me ;;D

Unsolved

Title: Re: What Can I take if I want to have a Drink
Post by Chillrmn1 on Jan 21^st, 2005, 6:10am

Bring whatever you use to abort clusters- seems the beast likes to join most people in their alcohol indulgements. AND HE JOINS YOU FAST.

Title: Re: What Can I take if I want to have a Drink
Post by E-Double on Jan 21^st, 2005, 6:18am

A reality check bro......... or suffer from the consequences

I love my beer, I love my cocktails........
Stopped drinking then HA started dwindling so I played and realized it did not trigger so I indulged.....still did not trigger.....CH came back in a flurry but still does not trigger.......lucky me but now on Topamax........Suds=Nasty :( >:(=No brew or I'll have to just enjoy my Stout and hopefully that doesn't effect the taste of that lol.

If it triggers then find another way....

Good Luck!

Eric

Title: Re: What Can I take if I want to have a Drink
Post by Langa on Jan 21^st, 2005, 8:56am

on 01/21/05 at 06:10:40, Chillrmn1 wrote:

Bring whatever you use to abort clusters- seems the beast likes to join most people in their alcohol indulgements. AND HE JOINS YOU FAST.

Exactly...

Title: Re: What Can I take if I want to have a Drink
Post by Bethany1 on Jan 21^st, 2005, 11:27am

Don, do whatever you like, just be prepared.

Bethany1

Title: Re: What Can I take if I want to have a Drink
Post by Margi on Jan 21^st, 2005, 11:35am

Don, I have to interrupt here and ask you some questions.

How do you know you're chronic? How long has it been since you've had any pain free time?

There are some chronics who can drink without it triggering them, that's why I ask. Alcohol is much more of a trigger for episodics.

Next, you say you stopped taking verapamil and that you were at 800mgs of it? Or did you mean that you were taking 800 mgs of Advil? I'm confused. You absolutely should NOT quit verapamil cold turkey - please hear me on this. Doing so could cause drastic and dangerous spikes in blood pressure and that could be life threatening.

You say you want oxygen for the night time hits. Oxygen works well at any time as an abortive. Crucial that you use the proper delivery method though (at least 10 litres per minute through a non-rebreather mask). It's not only for night time, so don't feel your limited to only using it then.

Lastly, I gotta say it - why not just NOT drink? If it causes you pain... sorry, I know it's none of my business but why play with fire?

Title: Re: What Can I take if I want to have a Drink
Post by Biker on Jan 21^st, 2005, 7:12pm

I found I can only drink wimpy "Light" beer, and only clear liquer. When in cycle, I cannot drink anything. I have even dropped imitrex before going to the bar, and still get an attack. I decided that any alochol during a cycle is plain foolishness. Yep, I sure miss my drink---especially in the summer when Im out with friends and friends are all getting slammed. But to bring on the pain, is pure insane.

Title: Re: What Can I take if I want to have a Drink
Post by forgetfulnot on Jan 22^nd, 2005, 7:29pm

Way back when I started Lithium I've been able to destroy my liver with no headaches,

Lee

Title: Re: What Can I take if I want to have a Drink
Post by sandie99 on Jan 23^rd, 2005, 7:58am

How about water, bro? ;)

I'm chronic, on verapamil currently, and having CH has turned me totally sober... :P

Title: Re: What Can I take if I want to have a Drink
Post by Gator on Jan 23^rd, 2005, 8:50pm

Mostly summing up a lot of good info from several posts into one.

1. Painkillers really do nothing for CH and even cause more pain in the form of rebound headaches.

2. You should take your meds as prescribed and discuss any side effects immediately with your doc so s/he can adjust the dosage or change your meds.

3. Quitting Verapamil (or many other ch meds) cold turkey can put you on a cold slab.

4. Margi has a valid question that you need to answer more for yourself than anyone else: If it causes you pain, why drink at all? You can raise a toast with coke or orange juice or sparkling grape juice. The fun should be in the socializing not in the drinking itself, anyway.

5. O2: it isn't just for bedtime anymore! LOL If O2 is going to work for you at all, it will work for your attacks day or night. It's less expensive and fewer side effects. 10 to 15 lpm via non-rebreathing mask for 10 - 20 minutes.

6. Like Biker said: ...to bring on the pain, is pure insane.

7. If you are bound and determined to drink, bring your O2 tank and your trex. Hopefully they will help.

I probably drank more before I was 40 than most people drink in their entire lives. I haven't had a drink since contracting this disease. It's just not that important to me that I would risk the pain. In the end it's your choice.

PFDAN,

Gator

Title: Re: What Can I take if I want to have a Drink
Post by ccbiggsoo7 on Jan 24^th, 2005, 9:19pm

I agree with Lee and I have read several times if you are going to be able to drink beer then you need to try lithium. I couldn't touch any for about 3 years and then started the lithium and now I can drink about any time I wish. I thought my social life was over. For some reason Lithium was the only thing I could touch beer on. It's not a 100% guarantee every time but about 85% so take the trex with you. I also found out for some reason before the Lithium I could drink bloody mary's about 75% of the time and would not get hit. But 1 beer and I was out for the count.

Title: Re: What Can I take if I want to have a Drink
Post by Turts on Jan 24^th, 2005, 10:15pm

Don,

I have had cycles where I could drink to my hearts content and it would not trigger, and there has been other cycles where the sound of an ice cold beer being opened was enough to make me grap for the o2.

Different strokes for different folks I guess.

I have however used a few bourbons with a beer chaser to bring on a HA when ive had enough of those shadows haunting me all day.

Someones I would rather get up and dance rather than just sit in the corner tapping my foot to the music.

Turts.

p.s. I have read that lighter coloured drinks such as vodka, gin are less likely to trigger and are lower in calories if you are someone would likes to drink but not put on the weight that goes with it. (dont know if true, but...)

Title: Re: What Can I take if I want to have a Drink
Post by Reese on Jan 29^th, 2005, 8:35am

turt wrote: "I have however used a few bourbons with a beer chaser to bring on a HA when ive had enough of those shadows haunting me all day." That may sound crazy to some but Ive done the same thing many times.After I get my 30 minutes of torturing pain the shadows are gone, at least for the day. Im alcoholic,love my beer,brought hundreds of painful headaches on because I chose to drink my beer rather than abstain and be "almost" painfree.Ive been out of cycle for about 2 months now,the only time I trigger a CH is when I stop drinking(unusual,huh).Its always on my 3rd sober day.I signed up for a treatment program and will start this tuesday.Its only a matter of time before Im back in cycle,so Im hoping to be sober and lessen frequency/intensity of my headaches.Water for me today.

Title: Re: What Can I take if I want to have a Drink
Post by BMoneeTheMoneeMan on Jan 29^th, 2005, 12:33pm

Maybe, if you decide to drink, you should take a shot of Imitrex to get it in your system?
Anyone try to use a shot cause they knew that they were gonna get one? A preemptive sort of thing?
I would love a beer or a cocktail, but I hate shots. The only time I take a shot is when I wish I had my gun closeby, then I reach for the syrenge instead.
Thanks and PF wishes
BMonee

Title: Re: What Can I take if I want to have a Drink
Post by BigRick on Jan 29^th, 2005, 8:06pm

When Im in a cycle I cant even finish one beer before the beast arrives.If you're looking for something to take so you can drink all I can say is good luck and let me know if you find something,JK.
In my 15 years of CH's the only thing that let me drink a little was high doses of Prednisone.I prefer to just stay away from alcohol during a cycle.I figure I get enough CH's on my own why start another one just so I can have a beer.

Good luck and hang in there. ;;D

Title: Re: What Can I take if I want to have a Drink
Post by K-9 on Jan 31^st, 2005, 3:30am

If you are indeed Chronic, and you figure out that Alcohol does not trigger for you, be careful, Some chronics, like myself, have Cycles within my chronicness, and if I am in one of those, I can't drink, other times it's no problem, like at Dav con!!! ;;D