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        New Message Board Archives >> 2006-2007 Getting to Know Ya Posts >> Greetings from a long time "lurker / Supporte
        
(Message started by: Becca on Feb 16^th, 2007, 7:22am)

Title: Greetings from a long time "lurker / Supporte
Post by Becca on Feb 16^th, 2007, 7:22am

Hello. I much enjoyed reading all of the "Who's Who" messages on this getting to know ya part of the board! - Great idea, and much appreciated.

I'm an RN, age 55, with a husband, Bill, who has endured episodic CH since the early '70s. I come here, read much and say little. Bill reads a little, says nothing, and suffers much. I am returning this morning after a long time, to see if there's been any mention of a medication, Lyrica, for treatment of CH. I didn't see any yet, so wanted to mention it myself.

backstory:
Bill was very fortuneate to be pain free for a couple of years, and we thought maybe he "outgrew" the dang thing, but NOOOO! He got hit with a very long cycle around the first of 2006, which lasted from Jan - June.

Jan, 2006, we found a neurologist in San Antonio doing research and a limited patient care practice who agree to take Bill on, after immitrex injection just about gave him a heart attack.
The neuro doc has CH, himself. He took a very agressive approach to getting Bill's attack cycle under control. (Verapamil / Zomig / Prednisone / Lidocaine nasal spray / Oxygen) All that worked well, but the attack cycle turned out to be very much longer than any in the past.
After weaning off all the meds in June or so, Bill started a whole bunch of dental work he had put off while in the pain cycle. A root canal procedure touched off more head pains, presumably due to lingering cranial nerve irritability near the operative site.
That's when the neuro doc decided to give him Lyrica to calm those nerves. It worked well, not only for the pain, but seemed to lift his moods a lot, too. I wish I could say that was the end of the story, but really - the fun just never ends, does it?
Now, as the new year begins, we are beginning a new cycle, and another round of the medications. I hope they work again....Has anyone else tried Lyrica for pain related to CH?

Title: Re: Greetings from a long time "lurker / Supp
Post by BB on Feb 16^th, 2007, 7:55am

Hi and welcome, :)

Yes my husband had been on Lyrica and it worked quite well for him. He is out of cycle now but while in cycle the Lyrica helped reduced the intensity of the hits a fair bit.

He started at 75 mg then worked up to the maximum dose of 300 mg twice per day.

Lyrica is similar to Neurontin, an anticonvulsant, which is used also to treat neuropathic pain.

I have heard of people becoming completely painfree on Lyrica.

Painfree wishes to you.

Annette