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        New Message Board Archives >> 2005 Cluster Headache Specific Posts >> Something to think about......
        
(Message started by: BarbaraD on Jun 5^th, 2005, 9:32pm)

Title: Something to think about......
Post by BarbaraD on Jun 5^th, 2005, 9:32pm

A friend of mine was discussing my ch with me. Seems he's been doing a lot of research on them lately. He kept asking me if I had them when I was really stressed. Nope, not usually...

So he came up with - "Why not try speed?" It keeps you hyped up so therefore you shouldn't get hit. [smiley=huh.gif]

I just wonder if anyone has tried diet pills or something like that? My doc has even noticed that when I relax is when I get hit. I know, I know -- don't relax. :P

Anyhow it's just another theory, but an intersting one. Haven't taken diet pills since the 70s, but you sure stayed UP with them = the best I remember. My house was never so clean.

Hugs BD

Title: Re: Something to think about......
Post by Lizzie2 on Jun 6^th, 2005, 12:21am

Think it would work with stimulants like ritalin (methylphenidate) or others in the category?

May explain why the coffee works well for some, but....coffee makes me feel sick.

I'll stick to my code red mountain dew...and I'm hyper enough as it is. My psychiatrist has grown concerned because I need concerta (long acting ritalin) to have my memory and get through the day, but then I need klonopin to crash at night. Interestingly messed up cycle! haha

On that note........off to bed! :)

Would be curious what others found as well, although if anything when I took the regular release ritalin, it tended to give me a headache and made me too jittery.

Lizzie2/Carrie :)

Title: Re: Something to think about......
Post by maffumatt on Jun 6^th, 2005, 6:12am

The guy down the street blew up his garage cooking that shit, now I can't find it since he is in jail. Seriously I doubt that the jail time would be worth it.

Title: Re: Something to think about......
Post by BarbaraD on Jun 6^th, 2005, 6:49am

He wasn't talking about the illegal stuff guys. He suggested I talk to my doc about it. I don't even know what's on the market for this kind of thing. It was just a thought.

Hugs BD

Title: Re: Something to think about......
Post by Bob_Johnson on Jun 6^th, 2005, 7:50am

Headache. 1998 Oct;38(9):710-2.

Cluster headache management with methylphenidate (Ritalin).

Mellick GA, Mellick LB.

From American Pain Specialists, Inc, Elyria, Ohio.

The authors report rapid cluster headache relief in a 43-year-old man with a 5-year history of refractory cluster headache. The patient described complete headache relief within 10 minutes of taking 10 mg of methylphenidate (Ritalin) when used to abort the onset of his headaches. Subsequently, a scheduled Ritalin dose taken each morning was sufficient to prevent his nightly headaches. In addition, 1 week of prophylactic methylphenidate therapy halted the series of cluster headaches. This is the first reported case of relief of cluster headaches with methylphenidate.

PMID: 15613186 [PubMed - in process]

Title: Re: Something to think about......
Post by Redd715 on Jun 6^th, 2005, 7:50am

Speed=most ADHD medications...there has been some talk that adults being treated for adult ADD have found relief from CH when they went on their ADD meds. My feelings are that it may need more emperical study, but for those whom stress keeps the beast at bay, might be worth looking into. Aren't we already guinee-pigs when it comes to treatments for this disease anyway?

Title: Re: Something to think about......
Post by pattik on Jun 6^th, 2005, 9:29am

on 06/05/05 at 21:32:19, BarbaraD wrote:

Anyhow it's just another theory, but an intersting one. Haven't taken diet pills since the 70s, but you sure stayed UP with them = the best I remember. My house was never so clean.

This is an interesting topic. I took them in the late 60's and also had the cleanest house around ;;D. I don't know about modern day speed, but that earlier version wouldn't do for middle-of-the-night hits unless you're studying for finals--no sleep possible.

Title: Re: Something to think about......
Post by nani on Jun 6^th, 2005, 10:04am

I'm an adult with ADD and have scrips for Ritalin. Before kudzu, I couldn't take it often. It caused worse shadows for me. I have high BP, so I always figured it spiked it even more and that triggered shadows. Since kudzu, I find I can take it like I should. (I don't, but I can) I'm surprised by the report of it aborting in 10 mins. It takes 20 - 30 mins for me to feel any different. Probably an hour to reach effectiveness.
The stuff they "make" on the street is poison. Never try that.
JMHO

Title: Re: Something to think about......
Post by bnfreeman on Jun 6^th, 2005, 2:07pm

I did some of the street stuff one time when I was getting hit and it worked great. That is the only time I tried it. It is not something I want to do regularly. And the reason why I tried it then was because I was at a friends house who used it and I didn't have anything else to use. There is a legal type of amphetamine called decoxyn ( I think thats how you spell it.) It's used for ADHD and people with narcolepsy. It may be worth looking into.

Title: Re: Something to think about......
Post by aprilbee on Jun 6^th, 2005, 2:34pm

I don't take any medications to keep me going, but on the weekends, I MAKE SURE I am not sitting around, I never sit and watch a movie, I have never made it through one movie when in cycle, I have to come back and finish watching it later.
I wake up and hit the ground running with housework, yardwork, yada yada yada...as soon as I relax, I get hit like a mother fu**er..! Like you said, as long as I'm moving, I'm usually okay (not 100% all the time), but for the most part...so why relax right??

Title: Re: Something to think about......
Post by yikes-another-one on Jun 6^th, 2005, 11:01pm

yep,

I work at a day care and guess when I get hit?

Nap-time for the little tykes

and

Quitting time.

Go figure.

the two most quietest time sof the day.

Of course,
i also get hit as soon as I wake up and when I try to sleep and if the day ends with the letter y.... ;;D

but you know....I'm finding a neat little pattern.... [smiley=huh.gif]

NEVER RELAX!!!!

Title: Re: Something to think about......
Post by kcopelin on Jun 7^th, 2005, 12:54am

this so sucks because I love to read-since i'm just about useless for anything else right now i sat down to read a cool book about the Knights Templar-fell asleep-woke up 15 minutes later getting blasted by an 8-i really hate these headaches-never relax-never sleep-this sucks!!!don't think i'd try speed but hey it might work.
kathy

Title: Re: Something to think about......
Post by Jasen on Jun 7^th, 2005, 11:39pm

My last go 'round 7 years ago I was taking Ercaff (sp) for the first season and it worked(I got them every April/May) The second season it was Ercaff and Verapamil. The third year we dropped the Ercaff and I was fine on just the Verapamil.
I still remember the Drs. words; Now you have to take this at the very first sign of an attack or it worn't work. But don't take it to often because it can build up to toxic levels in your system and could even kill you :o
Had me so nervous about taking it I would try and figure out which attack I was willing to deal with and which I wasn't.

Title: Re: Something to think about......
Post by tenacious on Jun 12^th, 2005, 9:05pm

"refractory" cluster headache?

Title: Re: Something to think about......
Post by Lizzie2 on Jun 12^th, 2005, 11:48pm

on 06/12/05 at 21:05:22, tenacious wrote:

"refractory" cluster headache?

Basically clusters that aren't responding to treatment. Could be an abnormally long cycle not responding to the normal meds, or could be someone who has turned chronic but has not found anything to help the attacks.

Refractory is often translated into "resistant to current treatment" when used with most headache types, but.....resistant to treatment currently does not mean resistant to treatment FOREVER...just may not have hit on the right thing yet. ;)

Carrie :)

Title: Re: Something to think about......
Post by clusterkat on Jun 13^th, 2005, 3:56pm

i must confess that i have wondered if my attacks are related to my drug use (speed, yup, up the nose) years ago. my headaches started one year later after i stopped so who knows. i did some recreational speed about a year ago & it sent me on a cluster-crash for days, so i dont touch the stuff any more.
but caffeine helps me alot & aborts some attacks.
confession over.
^kat

Title: Re: Something to think about......
Post by don on Jun 17^th, 2005, 7:29am

I'll build a meth lab next to my mushroom farm.

Title: Re: Something to think about......
Post by jcmquix on Jun 17^th, 2005, 10:17am

I know one thing, when I was in cycle 3 yrs ago, my dr told me told quit drinking Mtdew and all soda, only water. I had those dman things CH's 20 times a day. I am in cycle again, I am not getting any sleep at night from the BEAST. But I drink Code Red Mtdew all day at work and I have been fine until I go to get some sleep, then the Beast is kicking in my head.

Hmmm maybe I can make myself a Code Red Mtdew IV drip for overnight use.. :) ;;D :o ::) [smiley=huh.gif]

But the caffine has something to do with keeping the BEAST at bay...

Title: Re: Something to think about......
Post by Gator on Jun 17^th, 2005, 1:07pm

on 06/17/05 at 10:17:17, jcmquix wrote:

20 times a day doesn't sound like CH. It DOES sound a lot like Paroxysmal Hemicranias. Tell your doc to check the IHS Classification Guide, Section 3.2. Have your doctor try Indomethacin. Indomethacin (Indocin) is almost 100% effective in treating Paroxysmal Hemicranias. I think it should be a required diagnostic step in the diagnosing of CH.