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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Cluster Headache Specific >> What Exactly Is Verapamil?
        
(Message started by: Superirish2005 on Aug 31^st, 2006, 10:23am)

Title: What Exactly Is Verapamil?
Post by Superirish2005 on Aug 31^st, 2006, 10:23am

Is it a pill that is a preventative? Should I call doctor and ask for prescription?

How come when I went in last week he did not prescribe it to start with and only prescribed an abortive Maxalt?

Title: Re: What Exactly Is Verapamil?
Post by Kevin_M on Aug 31^st, 2006, 11:37am

It's a calcium channel blocker that has uses for relaxing blood vessels and lowering high blood pressure, and is listed for the prevention of migraines also. If you looked up CH, verapamil would be listed as a preventative but if you looked up verapamil, CH will probably not be listed as one of its uses. Yes, it's a tablet or pill.
It may be hard for a doctor to make a connection as to why it would work as a preventative for some with CH without knowing, but perhaps the vessels around the trig nerve don't react as they normally would when using it, I don't know.
Treating the pain as a tempory condition with an abortive might be a first reaction from a doctor, it was with mine but a preventative comes into the picture when soonafter a call is made to the doc that this is just not sufficing, the abortive script was gone in less than a week. Perhaps then a neuro referral who just might be familiar with CH, hopefully.
Sorry, I haven't kept up with your other posts to know what's going on but progress in treatment came to me with relating more and more to the doc the continued severity of what is going on, and then two neuros later got to verap, but that was years ago.
The first many years didn't go well but then this site helped me get on top of the ball much better.

Title: Re: What Exactly Is Verapamil?
Post by Karla on Aug 31^st, 2006, 2:26pm

Maybe he didn't believe or understand how many ch a day you were having and for how long you are incapacitated. I would ask for a low dose and work up to 960 mg if you must go that high. If it doesn't work that high you might want to try adding lithium 900mg/day to your verapamil(calan) combo. Good luck.

Title: Re: What Exactly Is Verapamil?
Post by chopmyheadoff on Sep 1^st, 2006, 4:06am

some peopel cannot use verapamil due to heart risks etc.
maybe your doctor saw that you might be predisposed to this and thought verapamil was not for you.

other than that, he might not actually be aware of the benefit this drug can have for CH.

i was chronic for 7 years and hit daily. #
i was diagnosed and put on verapamil and have been pain free ever since

ask your doc.
good luck

Title: Re: What Exactly Is Verapamil?
Post by burnt-toast on Sep 1^st, 2006, 7:26am

Here are two links that will help in you medication research. Your pharmacist is also the best source of information on drugs being prescribed.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginformation.html

http://www.drugs.com/

It important to remember that there really aren't drugs specifically developed for CH. Basically a collection of medications developed for other disorders that over time/trial & error were found to be somewhat effective for treating CH.

CH is a relatively rare disorder so it's not uncommon for doctors to be unfamiliar with the condition or how to treat it. Overall Headache specialists have been more knowledgeable but may find it necessary to do some research on your own in regards to your treatments.

Not everything works for everyone - There's a wide variety of abortives, preventatives and alternatives that provide relief to suffers. Specific medications/schedules that work for you will need to be experimented with until you find ones that provide results you are comfortable with. Improvement or some control over the disorder is usually the best result one can expect, cures are not the norm.

There is a wealth of information available online that can help you understand treatment options. The followingin link provides some good information to get you started.

http://www.headachedrugs.com/archives/preventivemeds.html

Best wishes

Tom

Title: Re: What Exactly Is Verapamil?
Post by no-one on Sep 2^nd, 2006, 9:45pm

You really have to be carefull l with verapaml DO NOT increase it on your own it can cause a lot of problems.(death)

DESCRIPTION

Calan (verapamil HCl) is a calcium ion influx inhibitor (slow-channel blocker or calcium ion antagonist) available for oral administration in film-coated tablets containing 40 mg, 80 mg, or 120 mg of verapamil hydrochloride.

Benzeneacetonitrile, ª-[3-[2-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)ethyl] methylamino] propyl]-3,4dimethoxy-ª-(1-methylethyl) hydrochloride

Verapamil HCl is an almost white, crystalline powder, practically free of odor, with a bitter taste. It is soluble in water, chloroform, and methanol. Verapamil HCl is not chemically related to other cardioactive drugs.

Inactive ingredients include microcrystalline cellulose, corn starch, gelatin, hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, iron oxide colorant, lactose, magnesium stearate, polyethylene glycol, talc, and titanium dioxide.

PF wishes
b

wanted to add DESCRIPTION that I found in RX.com to answer your question.

Title: Re: What Exactly Is Verapamil?
Post by brewcrew on Sep 3^rd, 2006, 8:37am

on 09/02/06 at 21:45:46, no-one wrote:

You really have to be carefull l with verapaml DO NOT increase it on your own it can cause a lot of problems.(death)

PF wishes
b

But you certainly can (and should) decrease it if you start feeling bad side effects. My doc recently wanted to up my daily dosage from 480mg, ramping up to 960mg. By the time I hit 720mg, my legs were twitching and I was having heart palpatations.

I went back to 480mg by myself and informed him over the phone. He agreed with my assessment.

Title: Re: What Exactly Is Verapamil?
Post by shabada on Sep 4^th, 2006, 2:02pm

Monitor yourself when you are taking verapamil. I had success with this medication for a year and a half. As everyone knows that is a major relief. About 9 months into taking this medication I increased my dosage. 4 months later I started feeling major side effects. Fatigue, dizziness, equilibrium was off, and depression. I am currently on topamax which for some has caused them problems as well, but none so far. Just remember every individual is different. Also clusters as well as the medications we take affect us all differently. It is a game to find what best works for the individual. Again this website is a great resource for information. Clusters are always evolving so never be content with medications and remedies your are given. Good luck and best regards.

Title: Re: What Exactly Is Verapamil?
Post by lskilly on Oct 4^th, 2006, 8:11pm

Tried Verapamil..

Caused me to have violent shakes. Couldnt even put the test stip in my diabetic meter.

Lskilly

Title: Re: What Exactly Is Verapamil?
Post by mcf69 on Oct 5^th, 2006, 12:20am

I'm not a big fan of using verap for CH, especially if you don't have hypertension to start with, same goes for lithium, if I'm not crazy, I'm not taking it. Bottom line, research the meds and side effects before making a decision, for me I'd rather live with the pain than deal with the stuff that comes with alot of the preventatives.

Title: Re: What Exactly Is Verapamil?
Post by brewcrew on Oct 5^th, 2006, 7:33am

on 10/05/06 at 00:20:02, mcf69 wrote:

...I'd rather live with the pain than deal with the stuff that comes with alot of the preventatives.

As Allen Ludden, the host of the game show Password used to say, "Your option - pass or play."

Title: Re: What Exactly Is Verapamil?
Post by BigCoffinHunter on Oct 5^th, 2006, 8:07am

If I had a choice I would generally take the side effects, unless they are life threatening. Side effects can be managed, I can deal with aches, or dizzyness, whatever, but I can't deal with the results of the CHs.