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        New Message Board Archives >> Oct-Dec 2003 >> Headaches Seem To Be Changing
        
(Message started by: BstnEagles on Dec 4^th, 2003, 11:40pm)

Title: Headaches Seem To Be Changing
Post by BstnEagles on Dec 4^th, 2003, 11:40pm

Hey Guys,

Thanks For the warm welcome! As I Said, I have had the crhonic form four about 5 years(since I was 16). It was really frustrating because the doctors kept telling me it was stress and that my scans were clean. I finnaly had to do my own research and basically diagnois myself. I have a specialist now (Dr. Bana at the Headache Center at The Faulkner Hospital for all you bostonians). As I said I have been on 240 verapamil for about a year. I am increasin to 320 this week, but then have to get my blood pressure done to make sure it doesnt dive. Over the past couple of months the headaches seem to be changing. Mine right nostril always use to get stuffed at the beginning of the attack and then ease up at the end. Now the reverse happens. I also feel as though the verapamil is becoming less effective and feel kinda spaced out after the attack. I dont know they are really weird. Sometimes I feel as though I am having a custer and a tension at the same time. Maybe I am all just screwed Up. Anyways... the last couple of months have been kinda tough and I have been getting alot of anxiety between school work and these headaches etc.. I am now also taking lexapro 15mg and ativan .5 mg twice a day to control that. It really sucks because before I was not a depressed/anxious person but I guees things are beginning to catch up with me. Anyways, the new meds have made me feel better but I think they are effecting the verapamil or changing the seratonin and it is screwing with the headaches. I dont know. Another thing is that using triptans(i use immitrex but my doc wants me to try the new zomig spray which i have but have not used yet can intereact with SSRIS but I guess it is rare.) Anyways, sorry to babble. Just wanted to introduce myself and let you know my situation. Any advice woudl be great. take care.

e

Title: Re: Headaches Seem To Be Changing
Post by BlueMeanie on Dec 5^th, 2003, 1:36am

Hi & Welcome.
You never mentioned O2. It is about the best attempt to abort a CH without taking all the pills, sprays and shots. Check the info to the left of this page. Just a thought.

Title: Re: Headaches Seem To Be Changing
Post by hootchdom on Dec 5^th, 2003, 2:15am

Welcome,

Just my experience but I’ve tried the verapamil 3 times and couldn’t take the side effects. The side effects for me was that spaced out feeling you are having. I called it light headiness or a woozy feeling. It was bad after the headaches. Every time I went off the verap it would stop. Since you don’t think it is working for you any more you may want to go off it for a couple of weeks and see if that space out feeling goes away. Consult with you doc first.

Good look and Pain free days ahead.

Hootchdom

Title: Re: Headaches Seem To Be Changing
Post by dkirin on Dec 5^th, 2003, 9:30am

E ... I hope the changes in pain end up putting you onto a mix that leaves you PF :) I take 160 mg of verapamil 4X/day, 125mg of doxapin 2hours before bedtime, 18mg of melatonin as I get into bed. I definitly relate to not being able to concentrate, but feel that it has to do with the pain and shadows more than the meds. Do check out info on O2, it has helped me more consistently than anything else I have tried. Sending PF vibes from North Carolina :)
Bill

Title: Re: Headaches Seem To Be Changing
Post by mikeyd on Dec 5^th, 2003, 10:37am

I get that lightheaded feeling after the HA leaves too. I am on 480-540mg/day verap. It is BP lowering medication. Lightheadedness may be caused by the change in BP after the headache leaves. during a CH my BP goes to 160/100 give or take a bit....after it leaves...my BP dropps to 110/65...that is where it comes from, I believe. Also, if you have been on it for a long time you will need to slowly work down the verapamil...don't just stop taking it...BP might go thru the roof (according to my GP).
Good luck and yak with the doc first!
PF wishes bud and welcome to the family!
Mikeyd

Title: Re: Headaches Seem To Be Changing
Post by jonny on Dec 5^th, 2003, 9:57pm

on 12/05/03 at 10:37:46, mikeyd wrote:

I get that lightheaded feeling after the HA leaves too. I am on 480-540mg/day verap. It is BP lowering medication. Lightheadedness may be caused by the change in BP after the headache leaves.

That so far is the most important sentence in this thread.

Go Mikey dude!!!

.........................................jonny