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        New Message Board Archives >> 2004-2005 Getting to Know Ya Posts >> Another brit newbie
        
(Message started by: Iain Nicol on Jun 22^nd, 2005, 10:08am)

Title: Another brit newbie
Post by Iain Nicol on Jun 22^nd, 2005, 10:08am

By way of introduction....
the name's Iain, I'm 48 and have been a clusterhead since I was 19 / 20.
The bouts are changing over time - for 20 years or so they were 4 weeks in duration, one demon per day, one hour after i went to sleep. To the minute. You could set your watch by these. Always started in April, always over in May. The only thing that could precipitate a bad one was alchohol. English Bitter, to be precise.

Now, they're different. milder (4-5 on the kip scale) but 4 or 5 per day,with perhaps 1 or 2 level 9'ers in a cluster. The clusters are lasting longer - 3 months is standard now. I wonder if I'm going chronic.

Treatment - Cafergot suppositories and Excedrin Migraine tablets (i get it from the US) which is paracetamol, aspirin and caffeine. The caffeine seems to help. I take these with a strong cup of coffee, as the caffeine makes my stomach flush through, enabling the painkillers to be absorbed more quickly.
The cafergot generally keeps them at bay for 24 hours or so. I always have a day a week cafergot free, just to clear myself out, and see where the demon's at.

One issue with cafergot suppositories - the caffeine in them can stimulate the bowels very quickly, resulting in wind of epic proportions. Occasionally, the suppository is ejected bullet-style. Woe betide anyone standing behind me, should this happen.
Being shot by a fart-powered, part-used suppository is not a good way to go!!!!!!

That's me.

Title: Re: Another brit newbie
Post by unsolved1 on Jun 23^rd, 2005, 11:04am

lol

nice intro

PF Wishes
Unsolved

Title: Re: Another brit newbie
Post by Bob_Johnson on Jun 23^rd, 2005, 2:46pm

I trust you have discovered your OUCH group. Good group. I'd recommend that you explore:

WWW.MELDRUM.DEMON.CO.UK/migraine. At bottom of home page, look for FAQ on clusters: four sections of extensive material; strong on treatment options.

I used ergotamine for many years until I discovered the greater reliability of Zyprexa. Taking a tablet is certainly less exciting than your present med affords you but, perhaps, more suitable to emerging middle age!

1: Headache 2001 Sep;41(8):813-6

Olanzapine as an Abortive Agent for Cluster Headache.

Rozen TD.

Department of Neurology, Jefferson Headache Center/Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, Pa.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate olanzapine as a cluster headache abortive agent in an open-label trial. BACKGROUND: Cluster headache is the most painful headache syndrome known. There are very few recognized abortive therapies for cluster headache and fewer for patients who have contraindications to vasoconstrictive drugs. METHODS: Olanzapine was given as an abortive agent to five patients with cluster headache in an open-label trial. The initial olanzapine dose was 5 mg, and the dose was increased to 10 mg if there was no pain relief. The dosage was decreased to 2.5 mg if the 5-mg dose was effective but caused adverse effects. To be included in the study, each patient had to treat at least two attacks with either an effective dose or the highest tolerated dose. RESULTS: Five patients completed the investigation (four men, one woman; four with chronic cluster, one with episodic cluster). Olanzapine reduced cluster pain by at least 80% in four of five patients, and two patients became headache-free after taking the drug. Olanzapine typically alleviated pain within 20 minutes after oral dosing and treatment response was consistent across multiple treated attacks. The only adverse event was sleepiness. CONCLUSIONS: Olanzapine appears to be a good abortive agent for cluster headache. It alleviates pain quickly and has a consistent response across multiple treated attacks. It appears to work in both episodic and chronic cluster headache.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Olanzapine has a brand name of "Zyprexa" and is a antipsychotic. Don't be put off by this primary usage. Several of the drugs used to treat CH are cross over applications, that is, drugs approved by the FDA for one purpose which are found to be effective with unrelated conditions--BJ.

Title: Re: Another brit newbie
Post by SusieWong on Jun 23^rd, 2005, 3:27pm

Hi Iain,

So sorry that you have to be here but glad that you have found us. My husband used to take cafergot suppositories many years ago but now uses Imigran iinjections and oxygen. These, together with Verapamil, a preventative, have taken away the fear of his next cycle.

I can recommend OUCH UK:

ttp://www.clusterheadaches.org.uk/home/index2.cfm?address=../home/txt_w elcome.cfm&added=Dec2001&code=AD

Do take a look at the site, there is a help board and lots of useful information about the UK meds which a do vary and also have different names.

Hope that you are soon PF

Sue

Title: Re: Another brit newbie
Post by burnt-toast on Jun 23^rd, 2005, 4:21pm

Hi Iain,

Since I'm "across the pond" I'll ignore the danger you pose to others and just say welcome.

There is a lot of good information and good folks here.

Tom

Title: Re: Another brit newbie
Post by pubgirl on Jul 1^st, 2005, 5:35pm

Iain

Sounds to me from what you are taking that you are being treated by a dinosaur and it might be a good idea to talk to us at OUCH UK as things have moved on about 10 light years here from that.

Wendy