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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Cluster Headache Specific >> Monster
        
(Message started by: Chrisjg23 on Dec 23^rd, 2006, 7:28am)

Title: Monster
Post by Chrisjg23 on Dec 23^rd, 2006, 7:28am

Hi Everyone,
I wanted to share the success I've had in squashing the beast with the energy drink Monster Khaos. Whenever I've had a level 7 or under HA I've been able to pound an ice cold glass of this stuff and within 10 it takes care of it. I'd say it has worked 5-6 times now so I'm thinking it may not be a fluke.

Also, on the bright side, Khaos doesn't taste like garbage. I can't stand the taste of Red Bull...Monster Khaos tastes similar to an orange soda.

I hope this helps...

CG

Title: Re: Monster
Post by andrewjb on Dec 23^rd, 2006, 8:17am

:). happy to hear its helping you, long may it last. andrew.

Title: Re: Monster
Post by Redd715 on Dec 23^rd, 2006, 9:17am

http://www.monsterenergy.com/images/pkhaos8.jpg

Appears as though the caffine/taurine balance is near the same as a Red Bull. I got this straight off the official Monster Khaos web site.

It's worth a shot, specially if it tastes better than Red Bull. Not sure about the price differential. Aldis has a Red Bull look alike for half price of the Name Brand.

Title: Re: Monster
Post by Guiseppi on Dec 23^rd, 2006, 10:55am

Thanks for the info Chris, this is what makes DJ's site work!!!

Guiseppi

Title: Re: Monster
Post by Chrisjg23 on Dec 24^th, 2006, 3:04pm

I'm going to buy stock in this stuff...

Happy Holidays, everyone.

Title: Re: Monster
Post by Chrisjg23 on Dec 28^th, 2006, 7:37pm

Have any of you guys tried this stuff yet? [smiley=huh.gif]

Title: Re: Monster
Post by Redd715 on Dec 28^th, 2006, 8:14pm

I still have a supply of the "generic" Red Bull from Aldis.

Haven't had to use but 2 cans in 29 days thanks to

(shamless plug)

www.clusterbusters.com

Title: Re: Monster
Post by B14CK5H33P on Dec 29^th, 2006, 7:01am

Just remember...

If you are on Verapamil, do NOT drink or take anything with Taurine in it. Taurine will exagerrate the levels of Verapamil and it can cause very bad things to happen.

Bad things man, bad things.

Be safe,
Carl D

Title: Re: Monster
Post by Chrisjg23 on Dec 29^th, 2006, 9:25am

Thanks for the heads up on that...

I had no clue....I think I'll stop the Verapmil and rely on the Monster...I hate taking medications anyways...

What would you guys do? What kind of bad things? Fainting? super low BP? Luckily, I'm still on a relatively low dosage of Verapmil...I just started 240mg up from 120 mg....

THanks,
Chris

Title: Re: Monster
Post by Redd715 on Dec 29^th, 2006, 9:51am

I believe that the taurine would exagerate the effects of the Verapamil, and could therefore drop your BP too low.

Not a good thing obviously.

Title: Re: Monster
Post by Pfunk on Dec 29^th, 2006, 2:42pm

I'm really glad I read all this stuff as my doctor is incresing the amoumt of verap that I am taking now. I don't use the energy drinks all that often but in emergencies at work and such. Had no ideas about the bad things that could happen. Thank you for starting this link and thank you to all supplying all the feedback.

Pfunk

Title: Re: Monster
Post by brewcrew on Dec 29^th, 2006, 2:52pm

Ya know, I gotta say that there's too much "this happened to me, so it will happen to everybody" that goes on here. I was taking 720mg of verapamil last cycle and drinking one or two energy drinks a day. No ill or lasting side effects.

Taurine doesn't increase the levels of other drugs, it enhances the effect of some other drugs. We should be more careful to use phrases like "in my case," or "in some people." Not all things are deadly or injurious to all people.

And no, Chris, I have not yet tried the Monster Khaos. But you've piqued my interest.

Title: Re: Monster
Post by georgej on Dec 29^th, 2006, 7:41pm

I think I'm gonna go ahead and try the Monster Khaos at the next opportunity--mostly for the taste and the buzz, since I'm out of cycle at the moment. It'll be a good thing if it's more palatable than some of the others. Thanks for the recommendation.

I already like regular Monster, even if it is the color of radioactive wee-wee water.

Best,

George

Title: Re: Monster
Post by B14CK5H33P on Dec 30^th, 2006, 3:39am

on 12/29/06 at 14:52:14, brewcrew wrote:

Everyone is different, and I got away with drinking Red Bull with Verapamil for awhile... but was also having irregular heartbeats and after collapsing in my apartment one morning when my heart was busy skipping beats, I told my doc about it and he told me that Taurine mixed with Verapamil can cause heart attacks in some people.

Check out the Med-Owl article specifically on CH and Taurine:

http://www.med-owl.com/clusterheadaches/tiki-index.php?page=Taurine

Quote:

CAUTIONS:

Taurine should not be taken if you are currently on a prescription for Verapamil or any other calcium channel blocker. Until more is learned, it is wise to assume that Taurine may increase the action of Verapamil, which could slow the heart excessively, causing irregular heart beats and possibly a heart attack. It is also not clear if Taurine would interact with other medicines like Sodium Valproate or Lithium.

If I have to choose between the two, I'll stick with my Verapamil.

Peace,
Carl D

Title: Re: Monster
Post by Chrisjg23 on Dec 30^th, 2006, 5:38pm

on 12/30/06 at 03:39:33, B14CK5H33P wrote:

Hey Carl,
What was your daily dosage of Verapamil? How many Red Bulls did you take in a day? Just wondering...

I'm on 240mg of Verapamil and I drink about 6-8oz of Monster Khaos if the Beast is knocking on my door...pretty much anything KIP 4 or more and I'll drink the Monster...Beast is gone within 5-10 minutes...Luckily the past week--week and a 1/2 have been pretty good no more than two HA per day...

Did you have any other signs/symptoms prior to passing out and having the heart issues?

Thanks,
Chris

Title: Re: Monster
Post by sandie99 on Jan 1^st, 2007, 12:02pm

Chris,

I'm glad to hear that Monster works for you. I hope that it will keep on working for you.

Hugs,
Sanna

Title: Re: Monster
Post by Chrisjg23 on Jan 6^th, 2007, 8:09pm

Hi All,

Well, it's been a little over 3 weeks since I first posted and I'm pleased to say that I've found this site to be a Godsend.

I think the Verapamil is working...I went from 3-5 HAs/day to 1-2 after a couple weeks of 240mg. Believe it or not, I even had 33 consecutive hours of a normal life! Not even a shadow...

For the last 24 hours (which was followed by the PF 33 hours) I have had a fairly constant shadow... no real HA's...It's been pretty weird and awkward...kinda like waiting for the bomb to drop...

Has anyone else had this experience?
Are they winding down?
Should I go from 240mg of Verapamil to 360?

I've still had a lot of abortive success drinking 1/2 can of Monster...although, with the warnings of it magnifying the Verapamil, I've been cautious...

Title: Re: Monster
Post by Salvelinus on Jan 6^th, 2007, 10:51pm

I've had that experience, and I was guessing that it was actually a migraine-type headache I was feeling. My neuro diagnosed me with a "headache disorder," which he said means I get multiple headache types.

There have been a handfull of times during the 20 years I've had clusters that the severe cluster pain subsided like usual, but not completely, and lasted for a day or more. During the peak of those headaches I vomited (I can get nauseous, but never vomit with a "normal" CH), which also makes me (and the neuro) think it was a migraine following (or during) a CH.

About increasing the dosage: I cannot tell you what your dosage should be. I can tell you, however, that at one time I was on 960 mg Verapamil and it didn't help me. It did back me up pretty bad and I still have the hemorrhoids to prove it, though . . . . Anyway, my neuro backed me down to 240 mg twice daily and added indocin, which ended the cycle for me, and led to the longest remission I've ever had.

Thanks for the update on the Monster. I've had some luck with Red Bull on the minor CH's. As for the taurine effects on Verapamil, that's good info as well. I'll definitely keep that in mind, but on my current dose of 240 mg, it would take a lot to match the 960 mg dose of a few years ago.

Oh, one thing about the higher levels of Verapamil . . . I did have some pretty scary palpitations after taking an Imitrex nasal spray. I work in a hospital, so the nurses did an EKG which turned out to be normal, but it still made me worry a bit. The neuro confirmed the interaction between the two drugs.

Title: Re: Monster
Post by B14CK5H33P on Jan 17^th, 2007, 6:44am

on 12/30/06 at 17:38:46, Chrisjg23 wrote:

Sorry I missed this question.
I was taking 480mg Verapamil 2 x day, and drinking probably 2-4 Ripit energy drinks a day. Before the incident, I just had occasional heart palpatations.

I also just had my Verapamil decreased to 360 2 x day, and it doesn't seem to have made the CH worse, but BP was getting to be too low.

Peace,
Carl

PS - I avoid energy drinks, but consume alot of mountain dew and coffee.

Title: Re: Monster
Post by Chrisjg23 on Jan 17^th, 2007, 11:10am

Hey Carl,

Thanks for that info...I appreciate it.

I'm currently taking 360 mg of Verapamil (120 in the am and 240 pm)...and so far it seems to be working. For about 2 weeks now I have had no more than 1 CH a day and I quickly pound an energy drink to kill the beast. Amazingly, it's gone within 5-8 mins.

I'm 8 weeks in (yesterday)...So happy anniversary to me! In reality, since this is my first episode, I have no idea whether they are on their way out or not. I suppose I'll take the beer test whenever I go a week or two pain free.

I wish all of you well... ;)

Title: Re: Monster
Post by JeffB on Jan 17^th, 2007, 11:46am

I am on Verap. and I have a sugar free red bull at least once a day. No bad effects that I can tell for me.

But I wouldn't stop a medication for an energy drink!!!!!!

Title: Re: Monster
Post by froggy on Jan 17^th, 2007, 8:47pm

Chris, I just want to thank you as well for starting this thread. What ever you said, clicked so my husband tried the Monster Khaos and we're starting to have success with it.

I'm truly glad you're having better days.

Michelle Paul

Title: Re: Monster
Post by ghostwriter on Jan 20^th, 2007, 5:53am

post deleted by poster

Title: Re: Monster
Post by froggy on Jan 20^th, 2007, 1:25pm

Regretably I've already forgotten who just posted this interaction website. It's supposed to help with crossing Medicines with herbal formulas.

www.drugdigest.org

good luck.