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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Cluster Headache Specific >> OTC and other non-prescription meds?
        
(Message started by: spidey426 on Jun 9^th, 2006, 11:08pm)

Title: OTC and other non-prescription meds?
Post by spidey426 on Jun 9^th, 2006, 11:08pm

Hey guys -- 7 year sufferer here.. just heard of 'cluster headaches' today, and SO relieved to finally know what is wrong with me. I've been reading and reading all day long about helpful medicines to help me deal with the next few weeks.. I can't get my hands on any prescription meds til next year unfortunately, so I've just ran to the store and got some Melatonin, ginger, and a few energy drinks with 1000mg of taurine. I've read all those things are helpful and hope to have some luck. I've read quickly drinking energy drinks with Taurine is helpful at the first sign of the beast, so I'm kinda excited to try that out..
Anyways, I've heard increasing Magnesium and B-12 is also helpful.. and I'm also going to order Kudzu ASAP.. I went to 5 stores today trying to find it.. ugh..

what other OTC/non-prescription remedies do you guy suggest for someone who can't get prescription meds or O2? Thanks for any feedback: )

Title: Re: OTC and other non-prescription meds?
Post by Guiseppi on Jun 10^th, 2006, 2:16am

My doctor has me on magnesium and B-2. I started that regimen 3 years ago and had the longest remission in over 22 years, a 2 plus year break. The problem is, you never know if it was the meds, or the beast had just morphed again! I'm going to stay with the regimen and hope for another 2 years off when this cycle finally breaks.

Look into welding oxygen. There are some engineers on this board who have come up with masks you can use with welding tanks. Much cheaper and oxygen is a miracle worker for many of us. Welsome to the board, wishing you some peace and pain free time.

Guiseppi

Title: Re: OTC and other non-prescription meds?
Post by Gator on Jun 10^th, 2006, 4:13am

Welcome to the asylum! Here is a page from the OUCH website (http://www.ouch-us.org) on non-prescription treatments.

http://www.ouch-us.org/chgeneral/nonmed.htm

You may not be able to get prescription O2, but you might be able to get welder's O2. Plenty of people here use it, including me. I lease a K tank from a local steel supply for $54 per year and refill it for $18. Ends up being cheaper than what I would pay for the medical stuff through my nearly worthless insurance.

According to this calculator, a K tank at 15 liters per minute for 15 minutes each session will yeild 26 aborts.

http://www.monroecc.edu/depts/pstc/backup/paraoxca.htm

I get about 40 per tank using the Clustermasx. I'm able to abort in nearly half the time with this versus one of those cheap, flimsy non-rebreather masks I got from the local medical supply. You can check it out at:

http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~tritech2/clusterx/index.html

Keep reading and ask questions about anything you aren't sure about. You can also use the search link above to search for a topic.

Title: Re: OTC and other non-prescription meds?
Post by spidey426 on Jun 10^th, 2006, 10:20am

Thanks for the O2 info.. I will definately look into the welder's mask if this month gets too unbearable!

I took 9mg of Melatonin last night and sleep like a rock! This was my first time trying it so I'm not gonna jump to any conclusions yet, but hopefully this will be something to get me through the nighttime attacks..

thanks again

Title: Re: OTC and other non-prescription meds?
Post by chewy on Jun 10^th, 2006, 1:39pm

Quote:

I took 9mg of Melatonin last night and sleep like a rock!

I use it out of cycle now. Good stuff.

Title: Re: OTC and other non-prescription meds?
Post by Charlotte on Jun 10^th, 2006, 4:03pm

If you can't find kudzu locally, try the internet. iherb has good prices & delivers pretty quick. There are other mailorder companies mentioned in the kudzu threads.

I'm at the library & I can't get this computer to give me a second screen or I'd give you the link - sorry.

Good luck. Also, ice packs or frozen peas used as iced packs might help, too. And water, water, water.

Charlotte

Title: Re: OTC and other non-prescription meds?
Post by DAVE_BAKER on Jun 11^th, 2006, 2:24pm

CLARITIN D 24HR TYPE MAGNEISIUM 500-700MG 6MG MELATONIN +COFFEE good luck, glad you've found out your not really dieing I had it for 27 years and they only teated me for sinusiti gave I gave up thought I had cancer or :P DAVE