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        New Message Board Archives >> 2005 Cluster Headache Specific Posts >> help please
        
(Message started by: gyaji on Oct 7^th, 2005, 4:40am)

Title: help please
Post by gyaji on Oct 7^th, 2005, 4:40am

hello all, i was diagnosed with CH today and was given the following meds to break the cycle.

prednisolone 5mgs/tab, 4 tabs morning and 4 tabs after evening meals. for 3 days, then next 3 days same format except it is decreased to 3 tabs, this goes on until it 1 tab.

also verapamil 40mgs/tab, 1 tab morn/afternoon/evening for 3 days, then increased to 2 tabs (morn/noon/eve) for the next three days

my questions are: is it safe to take them together? i have read that some fellow clusterheads have given up on all these drugs? why? i have read that these drugs make the body dependent upon them and that stoping them especially verapamil could have negative effects instead. i did ask my doctor but... i'd rather know from fellow clusterhead veterans if these drugs are worth taking? thanks.

Title: Re: help please
Post by unsolved1 on Oct 7^th, 2005, 7:00am

I read your first post but didn't have time to respond until now.

Both Verapamil and steriods like Prednisolone are commonly prescribed meds for clusters. Both are low doses that you have been prescribed. Now you just need an abortive med to stop the headache once it has started. (such as Imitrex or another Triptan drug)

Hope this helps

Pain Free Wishes

UNsolved

Title: Re: help please
Post by Gena on Oct 7^th, 2005, 7:25am

on 10/07/05 at 07:00:29, unsolved1 wrote:

(such as Imitrex or another Triptan drug)

Triptans are great - But O2 rocks.

I did not see the original post so I am not sure If you are aware that O2 can be a great way to abort a CH attack. Read all the info on the left.

Title: Re: help please
Post by unsolved1 on Oct 7^th, 2005, 7:29am

Gena's right. Many swear by O2. It's one of the favorite abortive meds out there. (and it's cheap!)

UNsolved

Title: Re: help please
Post by Bob_Johnson on Oct 7^th, 2005, 7:50am

http://www.headachedrugs.com/pdf/HA2005.pdf
Read all the material, even sections on migraine. Material which important to cluster folks is sometimes also common to migraine.

-------------------
This is a long article but worth printing for reference.

The prednisone dose you are using is low for stopping a cluster cycle. If this dose does not work,ask you doctor to do another round at a higher dose.

Prednisone will abort a cycle quickly but you should also being starting--at the same time--Verapamil which serves as long term preventive medication. It's often necessary to use a daily dose up to 700-900mg to get good effect. Doctors who do not treat cluster will be concerned about such a high dose. If you doctor is concerned, give him this material:

Here is a link to read and print and take to your doctor. It describes preventive, transitional, abortive and surgical treatments for CH. (2002)

http://www.brightok.net/~mnjday/chtherapy.pdf

Title: Re: help please
Post by unsolved1 on Oct 7^th, 2005, 1:13pm

You changed your post again ? [smiley=huh.gif]

Verapamil & Prednisolone are fine to take together. Do not stop taking Prednisolone abruptly (it needs to be tapered like you're doing) If you take your meds like you're supposed to, it'll be fine.

Goodluck
UNsolved

Title: Re: help please
Post by phydeaux on Oct 8^th, 2005, 12:23am

Verapamil worked GREAT for me, till the side effects got to be too much. For me personally, O2 doesn't really have any effect at all. Too bad, most of the peeps swear by it, darn it!

Title: Re: help please
Post by jcmquix on Oct 8^th, 2005, 9:08am

The O2 Kicks A** for me, my First Weapon of choice...

It just takes a little practice, took me about a week to master it. But I Love it Now..

God Bless & PFDAN's
Charlie

Title: Re: help please
Post by gyaji on Oct 8^th, 2005, 10:38am

thanks you all for the responses. really appreciate it.
is it safe to take abortive medication while on these preventative drugs. i am using avamigran which is 100 mg caffeine?

Title: Re: help please
Post by Redd715 on Oct 8^th, 2005, 11:10am

on 10/08/05 at 10:38:59, gyaji wrote:

thanks you all for the responses. really appreciate it.
is it safe to take abortive medication while on these preventative drugs. i am using avamigran which is 100 mg caffeine?

Abortives are key to quality of life with this hell. O2 for most people is the abortive with NO side effects or interactions, however Imitrex injections are second in line. Zomig nasal spray is next, but never never never mix the triptans.

Pegg

Title: Re: help please
Post by hwm54112 on Oct 8^th, 2005, 12:44pm

I've taken the combination for years whenever a cycle starts without any issues. The doses prescribed to you are low- prednisone is 1/2 and the verapamil is 1/3 of what I use.

Prednisone is almost always short term, starting at the max and immediately tapering off.

Always taper off all drugs used long term

Both drugs are very old. They have been around for years and the side effects are very well known, for both long and short term use, and as such you can feel pretty confident in using them. I personally have little fear of old drugs, it/s the new ones that I question.

Title: Please help pregnancy & clusters
Post by jessica_a on Oct 9^th, 2005, 9:17am

Hi, this is my first post. I am so worried. I have had clusters since I was 13, I am now 29. About 4 weeks ago I started with a new cluster. This is a odd time of year for me. I was put on the usual prednizone and verapimil treatment alnog with imitrex injections. They started to get better. then I found out I was in my ^th week of pregnancy. The OBGYN told me the verpamil is not good for baby so I stopped taking it. The Prednizone is not good but to finish my cycle, he also said it is ok to take the Imitrex injections as needed. I felt pretty good when I left his office that day. 2 weeks later I went to my headache doctor to get more imitrex andd see what if any preventitave I could take. He told me to stop everything at once! I am so freaked out, no meds and the worst cluster of my life! If you have any info please share. Thanks

Title: Re: help please
Post by don on Oct 9^th, 2005, 10:15am

Quote:

is it safe to take them together?

Safe and preferable.

Quote:

i have read that some fellow clusterheads have given up on all these drugs? why?

Ask 10 differant people and you'll get 10 differant answers.

Quote:

i have read that these drugs make the body dependent upon them and that stoping them especially verapamil could have negative effects instead.

I dont belive either is physically addicitve but there can be uncomfortable side effects if you stop them abrubtly.

Sounds like you have an educated Doc. Talk to him about an approprate abortive.

Title: Re: help please
Post by rextangle on Oct 9^th, 2005, 3:29pm

In my case, I gave up on all drugs due to horrible reaction and side effects.
Drugs didn't do shyte for me whatsoever, increased the frequency and intensity of the attacks, plus made me feel like crap. Prednisone messed me up, I ended up in the hospital.
Some others CHeads have had much more severe side effects with the prednisone.
Not trying to scare you, but search and read about it.
Obviously you were prescribed a very small amount which is probably safer, but may not work.
It's also possible that it won't make you sick or give you long term problems...
But in my book.... oxygen rocks!!! That's all I take now with the occasional clusterbusters which have worked wonders for me.
Good luck,
Rex

Title: Re: Please help pregnancy & clusters
Post by Gator on Oct 9^th, 2005, 8:39pm

on 10/09/05 at 09:17:11, jessica_a wrote:

Jessica, have you ever tried oxygen? If not, you should talk with your doctors - ALL your doctors - about it. Oxygen is an effective abortive for anywhere from 50% to 75% of clusterheads. It is less expensive, more effective and has fewer side effects than almost any abortive med on the market for cluster headaches.

Here is a link to an article by Dr. Todd Rozen that describes its use and justifies high flow rates for CH treatment.

http://www.chhelp.org/mhni.html

There are also several threads about Pregnancy and CH treatment. Use the Search link above to search for them. There are several members who are pregnant. Hopefully one of them will come along soon and give you some information as to what they are taking.

Hang in there. You can do this. You can contact me by PM or by e-mail anytime if you just need to chew on someone's ear for a while.

Mike