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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Cluster Headache Specific >> Verapamil when not in Cycle?
        
(Message started by: Trasher on May 1^st, 2008, 5:37pm)

Title: Verapamil when not in Cycle?
Post by Trasher on May 1^st, 2008, 5:37pm

I seem to finally be ending a 6 month long cycle. It's been a long one. Oxygen has been a blessing. It really reduces my Imitrex usage. The Docs had me on the usual Prednisone/Verapamil/Topamax treatment to hopefully "shorten" the cycle. I don't think it helped. I was also taking Melatonin. For three months I woke every night, 4 to 6 times, sometimes hourly. I don't think it helped either.

After 30+ years of CH, I think the only thing that ends a cycle is when whatever causes it decides to end it.

My Neurologist appears to be about 25. I honestly believe that there is more CH knowledge here than I can get from him.

Is there any evidence that taking Verapamil when I am NOT in cycle could prevent me from ever having CH again? He seems to think so. I find that kind of hard to believe.

Any comments are greatly appreciated. Thanks!!

Trasher

Title: Re: Verapamil when not in Cycle?
Post by StressFree on May 1^st, 2008, 6:30pm

Hi Thrasher,

I doubt it. Some here likely take blood pressure meds regularly for high blood pressure. Perhaps they will have some good comment. There are at least a few of us that noticed our cycle tends to stop when we quit taking the verapamil. This seems odd, since the verapamil helps lower attack intensity and frequency for the most part. But after being on it for 4 to 6 weeks, it seems that I get more severe break-through attacks. Very high KIP level attacks and for longer and more frequent periods - often right at the end. In desperation, I quit taking all meds (since they seem to have stopped working anyway) and all of a sudden the cycle ends. Maybe it would have ended anyway, but I've seen similar posts. Perhaps this isn't true for the majority of us. I would only take the Verap if I had blood pressure issues, otherwise I'd hope for the very lengthy break between cycles. Best of luck, and more importantly - prayers for you and all here, Rich

Title: Re: Verapamil when not in Cycle?
Post by boohoo on May 1^st, 2008, 6:37pm

Hi Trasher,

I normally go into a cycle in the early part of March. I then start to take the Verapamil. Last year my cycle lasted until the end of June. I don't think that the Verapamil helped at all. This year I started taking it before my first CH hit and so far I have not been hit. I have had some shadows that have had me worried. I really do think that I would be in a full blown cycle if I had not started the med.

I don't know about any studies or anything but that's how it is working out for me so far.

Jeannie

Title: Re: Verapamil when not in Cycle?
Post by Bob_Johnson on May 1^st, 2008, 8:23pm

I've known of a couple of good docs who kept some of their more unstable patients on Verap 100% of time. But have never seen any medical studies on the subject so assume these docs were working on limited experience and intuition.

The general pattern is to stop several weeks after your last attack, starting again should the attacks return quickly. I just don't see any clinical guidance to make the decision clearer.

Title: Re: Verapamil when not in Cycle?
Post by DennisM1045 on May 2^nd, 2008, 7:00am

I have high blood pressure. My Dr kept me on a low dose of verapamil (120mg) combined with Hydroclorothiazide to control it after my cycle ends.

It didn't keep the beast from making his regularly scheduled visit this spring.

-Dennis-

Title: Re: Verapamil when not in Cycle?
Post by kevmd on May 2^nd, 2008, 3:00pm

I took it pretty much every day for 8 years, in or out of cycle. Seems everytime I tried to taper off, the shadows started to come. Since I started, i had a 2 year remission followed by a 4 year remission. I believe it covered up many cycles. Sometime I combined it with LIthium if the shadows started coming stronger. My latest cycle started a while back and I do not think it has helped me this time around.

Title: Re: Verapamil when not in Cycle?
Post by Jonny on May 4^th, 2008, 3:48pm

I took 480 mg everyday for nearly 14 years, dontcha know that the beast always found me!.....LOL

Your doc is an idiot! ;)