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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Cluster Headache Specific >> my cat scan results
        
(Message started by: rapunzel on Mar 29^th, 2006, 11:29am)

Title: my cat scan results
Post by rapunzel on Mar 29^th, 2006, 11:29am

I went to see the neuro today, and he received a copy of my cat scan- now I know why the regular doctor wouldnt let me see it.
It shows that I have two lesions on the left side of my brain, that shows I have had a stroke at some point.

I have to take a regular aspirin every day now as a blood thinner, and I have to quit smoking,
and for the clusters, he gave me a script for elavil and for Imitrex 100 mg tabs.

Title: Re: my cat scan results
Post by nani on Mar 29^th, 2006, 11:56am

Yikes!
The elavil might help, and I stress might. He gave you Imitrex? Isn't that contraindicated when you have a stroke risk? The pills won't help fast enough anyway. Ask him about Zyprexa. And oxygen.

Title: Re: my cat scan results
Post by nani on Mar 29^th, 2006, 12:32pm

Rapunzel, this has been troubling me, so I looked up Imitrex on drug digest.com Here's what it said: (elavil is a tri-cyclic anti-depressant) I can't take any of the triptan drugs because of high BP, heart attack potential and previous intracranial bleeding.

What should my health care professional know before I take sumatriptan? (Back to top)
They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
•bowel disease or colitis
•diabetes
•family history of heart disease
•fast or irregular heart beat
•headaches that are different from your usual migraine
•heart or blood vessel disease, angina (chest pain), or previous heart attack
•high blood pressure
•high cholesterol
•history of stroke, transient ischemic attacks {TIAs or "mini-strokes"}, or intracranial bleeding
•postmenopausal or surgical removal of uterus and ovaries
•liver disease
•overweight
•poor circulation
•Raynaud's disease
•seizure disorder
•shortness of breath
•tobacco smoker
•an unusual or allergic reaction to sumatriptan, other medicines, foods, dyes, or preservatives
•pregnant or trying to get pregnant
•breast-feeding

What drug(s) may interact with sumatriptan? (Back to top)
Do not take sumatriptan with any of the following medicines:
•amphetamine or cocaine
•dihydroergotamine, ergotamine, eroloid mesylates, methysergide, or ergot-type medication - do not take within 24 hours of taking sumatriptan.
•almotriptan, eletriptan, naratriptan, rizatriptan, zolmitriptan - do not take within 24 hours of taking sumatriptan.
•medicines for weight loss such as dexfenfluramine, dextroamphetamine, fenfluramine, or sibutramine
•monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) such as phenelzine (Nardil®), tranylcypromine (Parnate®), isocarboxazid (Marplan®), and selegiline (Carbex®, Eldepryl®) - do not take sumatriptan within 2 weeks of stopping MAOI therapy.

Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you take any of these medications:
•cough syrup or other products containing dextromethorphan
•feverfew
•lithium
•medicines for mental depression, anxiety or mood problems such as buspirone, citalopram, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, mirtazapine, nefazodone, paroxetine, sertraline, trazodone, tricyclic antidepressants, or venlafaxine
•meperidine
•propranolol
•St. John's wort
•tryptophan

Title: Re: my cat scan results
Post by Gator on Mar 29^th, 2006, 6:52pm

Sorry to hear this, Kim. This is one case where I wish I had been totally wrong.

This is why we always recommend people talk with their doctors about getting an MRI done.

I can't believe the neuro is giving you Imitrex tabs.

#1 and a biggie - it is contraindicated for people like you who have a history of stroke.

#2 it is basically worthless for ch anyways because the pills don't work fast enough.

Definitely agree with Nani. Go back and ask him about the risks and talk to him about using Zyprexa and O2. Take this with you:

http://www.ouch-us.org/medications/zyprexa.htm

Quote:

Zyprexa (Olanzapine)

--
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.

edited to remove the 8) smiley in the quote

Title: Re: my cat scan results
Post by rapunzel on Apr 2^nd, 2006, 8:57pm

Thanks all- I havent taken the Imitrex since reading your responses. I go back to see him on the 13th to see what lovely tests he has in store for me. (related to the stroke).

Sooooooooo, curious on what its like to experience a cluster after being told that your chances of having a BIG stroke that could kill you are like superduper? heh . Now instead of having that thought in my head that "its a cluster, its not life threatening, it will pass" I have, "Is it just a cluster or is this the big stroke? should I be enroute to the hospital? Should I wait and see? What if I cant wait and see because at any minute it could be too late? ahhhhhhh. " Of course, in between all those thoughts are the usual "ohmygodddddittttthurrrrtssshurtshurts" thoughts...

Luckily, though, *knock on wood* I havent had a ch since Friday night. shhhh- don't tell the Beast he skipped me, because it s bedtime now.

Title: Re: my cat scan results
Post by Sean_C on Apr 2^nd, 2006, 10:15pm

http://www.strokecenter.healthology.com/focus_webcast.asp?f=stroke&c=stroke_tia#