Clusterheadaches.com Message Board


    
      
        Clusterheadaches.com Message Board
        (http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi)
      

        New Message Board Archives >> Jan-Mar 2004 >> Back Again - need info
        
(Message started by: duck_soup on Jan 4^th, 2004, 1:27pm)

Title: Back Again - need info
Post by duck_soup on Jan 4^th, 2004, 1:27pm

Hi. I've been lucky enough to be CH-free for three years now. I thought when I got divorced they were gone forever ;), but no such luck. I've had three little ones over the past few days which means that my cycle is gearing up. Typically, I get 1-2 per day for about 6-8 weeks. The only thing that has worked for me in the past is imitrex injections and oxygen. After about 6 weeks, my body gets tired of the stress and I can usually end the cycle with a couple of predisone packs. The last cycle, I got the word about dividing up the imitrex injections and it worked great. I have a couple of questions for the group since it's been a long time for me.

1. Has imitrex gone generic yet?
2. Is there anything great/new that I don't know about?

This site has been a godsend for me in the past. Thanks in advance.

Rick

Title: Re: Back Again - need info
Post by Linda_Howell on Jan 4^th, 2004, 1:31pm

1. I believe Imitrex has about 4 more yrs. before it goes generic.

2. Zomig has come out with a nasel spray which is cheaper than Imitrex and works faster.

Stick around this time Rick.

LindaH

Title: Re: Back Again - need info
Post by duck_soup on Jan 4^th, 2004, 3:11pm

Thanks Linda.

I've never tried the Zomig. The imitrex nasal spray never worked for me, tho. Only the injections.

Rick

Title: Re: Back Again - need info
Post by ClusterChuck on Jan 4^th, 2004, 3:20pm

Rick, sorry you have got the beast back. Have you tried verapamil, lithium, prednesone? They are preventattives and not abortives, like imitrex, zomig, and O2.

Then of couse there is the water treatment, and Charlie's redirection technique. And of course, the interesting 'shrooms!

Chuck

Title: Re: Back Again - need info
Post by Bob_Johnson on Jan 4^th, 2004, 3:30pm

You're the second person in the asking the same question, getting same response! I get complete relief in 20-minutes.

1: Headache 2001 Sep;41(8):813-6

Olanzapine as an Abortive Agent for Cluster Headache.

Rozen TD.

Department of Neurology, Jefferson Headache Center/Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, Pa.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate olanzapine as a cluster headache abortive agent in an open-label trial. BACKGROUND: Cluster headache is the most painful headache syndrome known. There are very few recognized abortive therapies for cluster headache and fewer for patients who have contraindications to vasoconstrictive drugs. METHODS: Olanzapine was given as an abortive agent to five patients with cluster headache in an open-label trial. The initial olanzapine dose was 5 mg, and the dose was increased to 10 mg if there was no pain relief. The dosage was decreased to 2.5 mg if the 5-mg dose was effective but caused adverse effects. To be included in the study, each patient had to treat at least two attacks with either an effective dose or the highest tolerated dose. RESULTS: Five patients completed the investigation (four men, one woman; four with chronic cluster, one with episodic cluster). Olanzapine reduced cluster pain by at least 80% in four of five patients, and two patients became headache-free after taking the drug. Olanzapine typically alleviated pain within 20 minutes after oral dosing and treatment response was consistent across multiple treated attacks. The only adverse event was sleepiness. CONCLUSIONS: Olanzapine appears to be a good abortive agent for cluster headache. It alleviates pain quickly and has a consistent response across multiple treated attacks. It appears to work in both episodic and chronic cluster headache.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Olanzapine has a brand name of "Zyprexa" and is a antipsychotic. Don't be put off by this primary usage. Several of the drugs used to treat CH are cross over applications, that is, drugs approved by the FDA for one purpose which are found to be effective with unrelated conditions--BJ.

Title: Re: Back Again - need info
Post by duck_soup on Jan 4^th, 2004, 3:32pm

Chuck,

I'm so much luckier than most of the poor souls here. I usually have well defined cycles. I've tried the preventatives, especially the verapamil. I think it has the effect of keeping things from running their course. I think that I'll try the old standbys. Luckily, I have a decent drug plan at work and eventhough the imitrex is still expensive, with the splitting I can keep the costs down to a reasonable level.

Any idea if old imitrex still works? I have some from my last cycle, so it's about 3 years old. I was planning to use it until I can get my prescriptions through.

Thanks for the kind words.

Rick

Title: Re: Back Again - need info
Post by Unsolved on Jan 4^th, 2004, 3:41pm

Old Imitrex is still good as long as it hasn't been heated up or frozen. I've used expired Imitrex several times.

Interesting post Bob. Todd Rozen is my doctor. I've seen him everyday this past week (I'm in MHNI ~ Chelsea). My current 'abortive' is Zyprexa, but I haven't had to use it yet.

Unsolved

Title: Re: Back Again - need info
Post by Roxy on Jan 4^th, 2004, 5:40pm

Hi...welcome,

You might find this sight interesting.

http://clusterbusters.com/

Title: Re: Back Again - need info
Post by don on Jan 4^th, 2004, 7:35pm

It continues to be a God send for those that stick around.

The pattern for Imitrex is still held by Glaxo.

Title: Re: Back Again - need info
Post by Mark C on Jan 5^th, 2004, 2:31am

Glaxo's patent for Imitrex expires on Aug. 6, 2008.

Check this (http://biz.yahoo.com/rc/031230/health_imitrex_1.html) out. Whew!

http://chart.yahoo.com/c/1y/g/gsk.gif

It's all about money.

[smiley=deal2.gif]