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        New Message Board Archives >> 2006 General Board Posts >> Ladicain drip?
        
(Message started by: Mattrf on Oct 17^th, 2006, 10:21am)

Title: Ladicain drip?
Post by Mattrf on Oct 17^th, 2006, 10:21am

So has anyone had it and what should I expect?
Is this an over night in the hospital thing, does it hurt or have any bad side effects?

Matt

Title: Re: Ladicain drip?
Post by LeeS on Oct 17^th, 2006, 11:09am

Hi Matt

Do yo mean intravenous lidocaine? It's normally used for other 'headaches' - not much experience of it with CH I'm afraid - sorry.

I think a lady from OUCH (UK) has been recommended this recently - I'll do some digging if you like.

Of course you may be referring to something else? :-/

-Lee

Title: Re: Ladicain drip?
Post by The mad viking on Oct 17^th, 2006, 11:14am

Lidocaine (Xylocaine) is as far as i know not used with sucess on ch but its known to be used on trigeminus neuralgica

Svenn

Title: Re: Ladicain drip?
Post by fubar on Oct 17^th, 2006, 11:14am

I have lidocaine. It's meant to be dripped into the sinus to create a nerve block. They probably don't need you in the hospital if it's they plan to drip it into your sinus, it's not that difficult.

Tastes funny.. only really good for migraines. Works for that though... almost feels like snorting cocaine without the bank account draining part.

Title: Re: Ladicain drip?
Post by Yorky on Oct 17^th, 2006, 11:27am

i have lignocain 4% solution.this is applied i/2 mg drops.

you lie on your bed(on your back) with your head tilted
over the edge.then administer the drops.

Title: Re: Ladicain drip?
Post by LeeS on Oct 17^th, 2006, 11:29am

on 10/17/06 at 11:14:29, fubar wrote:

... almost feels like snorting cocaine without the bank account draining part.

Hey Fu - how you doing?

Either you're getting one hellava placebo effect or you've been buying dodgy gear in the past ;) ;;D Contrary to popular belief, lidocaine isn't related to the 'real thing' [smiley=laugh.gif]

Hope you're well.

-Lee

Title: Re: Ladicain drip?
Post by Lizzie2 on Oct 17^th, 2006, 12:36pm

I've been inpatient to receive lidocaine IV twice. I was actually the 2nd person they tried it on at Jefferson. The first time around, since the procedure wasn't really solidified, I ended up spending the first 2 days in the cardiac ICU. I was on it for 10 days the first time, and I think it was 12 days the 2nd time.

Unfortunately, I was still getting clusters twice a day when I came off the lidocaine the 2nd time. BUT - this was down from like 5-6 times a day, which was how I was going into the hospital stay. However, the first 5 days of the hospital stay were spent doing DHE and other headache meds, so honestly it was probably not the lidocaine alone that nailed the clusters back to twice a day. It took the pain of my constant migraine down from a 10 to a 3 or so - which was very much appreciated, even though rather short-term.

Of course, I have a bottle of the 4% lidocaine in the closet - that is to be used as lidocaine DROPS (nasal spray)...to treat a cluster attack. I actually never tried it because I have other things that work well enough for an attack, and because I have such bad nasal/sinus problems, meds via nasal spray usually do not work for me.

The doctor didn't say whether or not you had to be admitted to the hospital for this? At Jefferson, it seems sometimes people end up on it for quite a long time - as evidenced by my 10 and 12 day trials of it. It didn't hurt, but I had a PICC line inserted because of lack of IV access....getting IVs generally hurts, but the med itself did not hurt. Lab tests had to be monitored quite closely because it can have some side effects - including confusion and some other things. But there are levels that the drug has to stay within in the body, so they run frequent tests and cut the rate back if a lidocaine level gets too high. Also, it must be done on a unit where they can do cardiac monitoring as this can effect the heart. All in all, I never really had too many side effects from it that I can recall.... Sorry if this is scaring you - just trying to give the facts about it!

At the hospital where I go, they use it for clusters if the conventional treatments fail. However, I'm someone with both migraine and cluster, so I can't speak from the experience of someone going in with nothing other than clusters - what would be their treatment plan. It isn't written up in the literature as the only articles are written about migraine for this practice, but it IS done for CH at some places.....

When are you supposed to have this done? Please keep us informed!!

Hugz,
Carrie :)

Title: Re: Ladicain drip?
Post by Mattrf on Oct 17^th, 2006, 12:41pm

Sorry forgot to remind everyone I have SUNCT not CH that’s why they want to try this, was just wondering if anyone had any experience with it. This is the last thing they say they have to try before we go under the knife. Can’t tell you how un-nerving the thought of that is but I am getting to the point that even as easy as my job is it is becoming difficult to get through a day and I have been doing nothing but crashing once I get home and even on the weekends. Seems all I do out side of work is try like hell to do nothing so my batteries recharge enough to get through another day. Almost 11 months now of constant pain is really taking it’s tole on me, and I am starting to wonder how much longer before I am unable to work at all. Don’t get me wrong, I am far from lazy and love my job and even if I won the Lotto I would probably keep the job it is very rewarding to be helping doctors that do research to help millions of people so loosing this job because I just can’t physically do it any more would kill me. I am trying to get the doctor at the Mayo clinic to work with someone here in CA that my insurance covers, the four day trip there cleaned out my savings of 7k and it was just for a bunch of tests and consults so to go back for surgery would put me in the hole for years to come and I have a daughter that will be starting collage next year and I just don’t want to spend her future on my headaches. Sorry got off on a rant, I am just scared at the thought of surgery and what it might do to me physically and monetarily.

Matt
:-/

Title: Re: Ladicain drip?
Post by LeeS on Oct 17^th, 2006, 12:42pm

Hi again Matt - sorry, I just realised that you have SUNCT and not CH. An equally horrid curse, of course, but at least you get a more grandiose name ;)

I can see why the IV lidocaine has been suggested and hopefully it should work well.

All the best with it.

-Lee

Title: Re: Ladicain drip?
Post by Lizzie2 on Oct 17^th, 2006, 1:44pm

Matt -

Sorry I didn't remember also that you have SUNCT! I personally agreed to the IV Lidocaine more for the chronic migraine than the CH because while the CH is more painful for me, the chornic migraine is more debilitating because it never leaves. And when pain never leaves.....well I understand what you are saying - exactly. I would also want (and have done this!) to try anything possible before having to go through surgery - both for physical and financial reasons.

Hang in there, and if there's anything I can do to help as one who has been through the IV lidocaine treatment a couple of times - do let me know!!

Hugz,
Carrie :)

Title: Re: Ladicain drip?
Post by fubar on Oct 17^th, 2006, 2:22pm

on 10/17/06 at 11:29:37, LeeS wrote:

I had my 'wild' days, and then I had the 'stupid' days... All I know is, when I tried that 4% solution down my nose, lying on my back, head tilted back and to the right... the end result kind of made me want to gag since my throat was numbed. I probably didn't do it right. I wouldn't even try this for clusters... there's no way in hell you could administer it the way they say in the middle of a cluster attack.

Hope you're well too... I'm doing pretty good these days. Still have daily attacks, but they don't get me down anymore. When the beast is done with me, he'll leave.

-Fu

p.s. I just got back to work, and it looks like I'll be doing a lot of travel (maybe London, soon). We have a big office in Dublin, so I bet I'll be going there soon. Fire up the Guinness!

Title: Re: Ladicain drip?
Post by LeLimey on Oct 17^th, 2006, 2:33pm

Shawn we'll definitely hold a hoolie in London and if you can give enough notice I'll meet you in Dublin too!
You've always got a home from home here hon, you and Jen.
lots of love
Helen

Title: Re: Ladicain drip?
Post by LeeS on Oct 18^th, 2006, 4:24am

London's good Fu and Dublin's better 8)

Best mail me if you don't want any riff-raff turning up ;;D

Keep in touch.

-Lee

Title: Re: Ladicain drip?
Post by john_d on Oct 18^th, 2006, 7:42am

I used Lidocain nasal drops early on, not sure if that is what you mean. I had to make sure I got it early and I did it just right in my nose. It only worked 25-50% of the time and my nasal passage became incredibly raw I had used it so much. Not pleasant. Since you mentioned the hospital you probably mean something else.