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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Cluster Headache Specific >> WTF?
        
(Message started by: Richr8 on May 20^th, 2006, 7:47pm)

Title: WTF?
Post by Richr8 on May 20^th, 2006, 7:47pm

Anyone out there living on Verap? Got my cycle under control in Feb. and been weaning off Verap ever since. Everytime I drop tp 0 from 80 mg, the shadowing starts in. I was just on my way to a party and had to turn back to hit the O2 due to bloody shadows. Ridiculous. My apologise to all of you chronics out ther, but I'm tired of this shit. 7 months. Maybe I'm going chronic.
Any thoughts?

Title: Re: WTF?
Post by Kris_in_SJ on May 20^th, 2006, 8:23pm

Hi Rich,

I was just doing a bit of cruising as a guest (waiting for a movie) when I saw your post.

Don't lose heart and DON'T think you're going chronic!

It took me well over 5 months to wean off Verap from 480 down to 0. I was stuck at 240mg/day for well over 2 months, but going from 120mg to 0mg took the longest. Those darned shadows kept getting in the way.

Finally, I said "to Hell with it" and stopped. Had pretty bad shadows for a week or so, followed by off and on "twinges" for another few weeks. However .... no attacks.

Use the oxygen. Keep trying to wean off. If you get a full-blown attack, you'll know you're not done yet. Otherwise, totally PF time is just a few weeks away.

Hang in there, my friend. Hugs to you.

Kris

Title: Re: WTF?
Post by nani on May 20^th, 2006, 8:53pm

Sorry, Rich. :(
There's a school of thought that verap will prolong a cycle. I'm on it for BP, so I'm only taking 240 mgs a day. It never did much for my CH anyway. I think, if I were you, I might do what Kris did. Just keep tapering and get through the shadows with O2...
Don't get too concerned with going chronic, it just adds uneeded stress. It is what it is.
pf wishes and hugs, nani

Title: Re: WTF?
Post by Kevin_M on May 20^th, 2006, 9:05pm

on 05/20/06 at 20:23:55, Kris_in_SJ wrote:

but going from 120mg to 0mg took the longest.

True here also Rich. I had to settle for months of shadows back when, which beat getting hit but now still hoping to get back down there in time to try it again though.

Title: Re: WTF?
Post by marlinsfan on May 20^th, 2006, 9:23pm

Rich, unfortunately this is one more example that I see where Verap will extend a cycle. Were you on it your last time around?

Title: Re: WTF?
Post by E-Double on May 20^th, 2006, 9:51pm

Ya know that I completely detoxed.....

Verapamil was a bitch to get off of, however I feel so much better now that I am off of it.

I still have attacks but they are easier on me.

I also have more PF periods. I pretty much go 2 weeks high and 2 weeks low.

Good luck my friend.

Title: Re: WTF?
Post by mynm156 on May 21^st, 2006, 12:54am

GOOD VIBES MAN AND HANG TOUGH!!

MYNM156

Title: Re: WTF?
Post by Jasmyn on May 21^st, 2006, 2:21pm

Hey Rich, don't think chronic, Kris has the right idea.

Good luck to you and hang tough!

Title: Re: WTF?
Post by Richr8 on May 21^st, 2006, 4:01pm

on 05/20/06 at 21:23:49, marlinsfan wrote:

Were you on it your last time around?

I was, and in fact never got off completely between my last two cycles. I've decided to tough it out this time and O2 through the shadows as, and if, they come. After the episode last evening, when I had to turn around, come home and hit the O2 for 10 mnutes, the rest of the evening went well even after a couple of gin and tonics. Woohoo!

Thanks to everyone for the responses and support. I'm thinking now that as several of you stated, I'm only a few weeks from getting past the shadows if I just hang in there. I'm glad now that I didn't jump back on the Verap last night.

Love and hugs to all of you,

Rich

Title: Re: WTF?
Post by marlinsfan on May 21^st, 2006, 5:01pm

Great news! Here's hoping for a 2nd good night in a row!

Title: Re: WTF?
Post by Tom K on May 21^st, 2006, 5:20pm

I can't seem to get past 180mg, and I'm still getting hit at that. 1 a day seems better than 3, so I'm still verapin' it, and have been since Sept '05. Let us know how you are doing with the step down.

E, how long did you step down toward your detox or did you just cold turkey it?

Title: Re: WTF?
Post by PL259 on May 21^st, 2006, 5:34pm

I have lived on verap since the late 90's. Prior to verapamil I had random cycles, 1 to 4 times a year. No season just whenever the sucker wanted to whip my a$$. Since 97 or so I stay on verap 180 mg twice a day with no problems. Cycles went to 1 every 2 years (always keep my fingers crossed though). Each to his own. You do what works best for you!