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        New Message Board Archives >> 2005 Cluster Headache Specific Posts >> shadows or rebound ???
        
(Message started by: kelliev on Sep 24^th, 2005, 7:18pm)

Title: shadows or rebound ???
Post by kelliev on Sep 24^th, 2005, 7:18pm

hi, been having cluster headaches 4 weeks now, seems to be different than usual...getting them all night long, sometimes almost mild compared to what ive had in the past...still wake from sleep and pace and moan though....my eye quite often doesnt seem to be involved just awful pain right thru trimengal nerves..the full blown ones eye is still involved. using a lot of imitrex, wonder if these are shadows or rebound headaches from the imigran ??? please help

Title: Re: shadows or rebound ???
Post by AussieBrian on Sep 24^th, 2005, 8:19pm

Kellie, g'day from across the ditch.

What you've just described is very similar to what I get at the end of a particularly vicious cycle. I call it the hang-over effect and it's almost like something is bruised in there and throbbing. Maybe it is.

Either way, perhaps it's worth getting it checked out as you should with any major change.

Cheers and beers,

Brian.

Title: Re: shadows or rebound ???
Post by Kate in Oz on Sep 25^th, 2005, 5:34am

Hey Kellie,

I got your PM, thanks ;) ... I don't know if this will help you... but for the past couple of weeks I've been having shadows that were really bad! and seemed to last all day long - however I was able to sleep thru the night despite the fear of a full blown attack turns out no major hits - helped by use of 02??

I had a cycle a couple of years ago that lasted for six months - turned out it was caused by rebound headaches due to the numerous medications I was trying :-/

So... I've been getting quite worried about these shadows cos I don't want to go there again :-X and have been wondering if the cycle was coming to an end (no hits for 2 weeks) anyway ... decided to cut down my meds - I'm taking verapamil. I'm nearly off the stuff now and despite a really hairy time of it on Thursday - i was very tempted to get back on the drugs but stuck with the 02 on and off all day ...

the shadows have now gone!

Of course I wouldn't have called the beasts bluff without the 02 onboard...and I guess it's only early days .... but my fingers are firmly crossed.

I know we're all different and what works for one..... and you know you're cycles better than anyone....
of course check in with your doctor...

I just thought I'd share my experience - cos well you never know ???? I guess for me having that extended cycle freaked me out so much... I don't want to be going there again (especially now I'm on my own with a toddler). I think sometimes the drugs can #!#! you up as much as the ch's. Of course you gotta do something if you're still getting hit - highly recommend the 02. This is the first cycle in many many years that I've had the 02 at home and I can't tell you what a relief it has been ;)

I hope you get some relief soon !

Take care,

Kate

Title: Re: shadows or rebound ???
Post by Bob_Johnson on Sep 25^th, 2005, 7:16am

It's not always clear. Generally--by definition--a rebound attack feels like a "regular" cluster although it is caused by the overuse of an abortive/pain med.

Your comment about using much triptan opens another possibility:

: Headache. 2004 Jul;44(7):713-8. Related Articles, Links

Subcutaneous sumatriptan induces changes in frequency pattern in cluster headache patients.

Rossi P, Lorenzo GD, Formisano R, Buzzi MG.

Objectives.-To document the relationship between the use of subcutaneous (SQ) sumatriptan (sum) and a change in frequency pattern of cluster headache (CH) in six patients. To discuss the clinical and pathophysiological implications of this observation in the context of available literature. Background.-Treatment with SQ sum may cause an increase in attack frequency of CH but data from literature are scant and controversial. Methods.-Six CH sum-naive patients (three episodic and three chronic according to the International Headache Society (IHS) criteria) are described. Results.-All six patients had very fast relief from pain and accompanying symptoms from the drug but they developed an increase in attack frequency soon after using SQ sum. In all patients, the CH returned to its usual frequency within a few days after SQ sum was withdrawn or replaced with other drugs. Five patients were not taking any prophylactic treatment and SQ sum was the only drug prescribed to treat their headache. Conclusions.-Physicians should recognize the possibility that treatment of CH with SQ sum may be associated with an increased frequency of headache attacks.

PMID: 15209695 [PubMed - in process]