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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Cluster Headache Specific >> Help determining whether cycle is winding down..
        
(Message started by: mezza on Apr 17^th, 2008, 8:09pm)

Title: Help determining whether cycle is winding down..
Post by mezza on Apr 17^th, 2008, 8:09pm

Cycle started 6 weeks ago- longest one yet- Started Verapramil 3 weeks ago at 480 mg , 1 week ago neuro added 180 at bedtime. Also added Indomethicin as a trial prevent and abortive along with imitrex. Imitrex ran out ( can't get filled til the 6th of may even with override) so dr prescribed zomig nasal

Prior to this- did two pred tapers, was on some wrong meds from a different neuro ( fired him) and was getting hit every nite around 1-2 am and usually around 8-9 pm and strong shadows during day

As of a week ago, when verap got increased was getting 1 hit in the am upon waking about a kip 5 or so - could sometimes beat with coffee and red bull , sometimes took a triptan. some shadows during day but bearable.

But past couple of days no shadows during the day- head totally clear, waking up got a kip 2 or 3. Took nothing and went away.

Question is this- could cycle be ending with the increase of verap? Could the indomethacin be helping ( I was not optimistic about this one but followed dr orders on this) and what is the half life of zomig- seems when i stopped imitrex altogether and occasionally used the zomig - my shadows have gotten weaker and weaker?

Could it Be? And if so what is everyones measure in how long to go pf with no shadows till taper off meds begins? thanks everyone

kelly

Title: Re: Help determining whether cycle is winding down
Post by KatzPurr on Apr 17^th, 2008, 9:44pm

Kelly, in my 32 years of doing battle with the beast, I have never found a preventative which has aborted or was even remotely successful in getting my ch to wind down toward remission. With that said, all medications and treatments work differently on different people, so it is certainly possible that the Verapamil and/or the other preventatives you mentioned could be working. My current neuro did mention to me that maybe the doses I tried on some of the preventatives was not high enough, so increasing them as you have may have made the difference for you.

In my case, no matter what I tried, the ch always seemed to need to run their course. Sometimes that meant several they lasted a few weeks and sometimes they lasted several months. My last ch cycle lasted the longest and had a somewhat different pattern than in the past, but it still wound down the same with decreased and less intense hits until they finally disappeared completely. My guess is that either your ch are going back into remission or the meds are working. Either way is a WIN WIN situation!

Title: Re: Help determining whether cycle is winding down
Post by Trooper on Apr 17^th, 2008, 10:10pm

Personally, I usually wait for 3 to 4 wks. of being completely ha free (including shadows) before I stop my preventative measures. I can understand your delima though. There have been many times over the years that I have tried new treatment options in the middle of a cycle. Many times I have been left wondering if they did the trick or the if the cycle was just winding down. Kinda makes you feel like you are chasing your shadow!

Quote:

As of a week ago, when verap got increased was getting 1 hit in the am upon waking about a kip 5 or so - could sometimes beat with coffee and red bull , sometimes took a triptan. some shadows during day but bearable.

From what you say here it sounds like the Verapamil is working. I found my ha's did the exact same thing when I started with Rhodiola. I was only a few weeks into my cycle so I know it was not due to my cycle ending. I think any time you find a treatment option that can change up you ha cycle (for the better) than you are probably on the right path. Either way, I am so glad to hear you are getting reliefe! 8)

Title: Re: Help determining whether cycle is winding down
Post by mezza on Apr 18^th, 2008, 12:16am

thanks for the feedback- its tough to know- i am trying to arm myself with as much 'data' to prepare for another cycle when this one is over and for whenever a new cycle can begin-

it is a win- win though i agree- when you start feeling good its easy to begin erasing the bad memories of the start of the cycle-