Clusterheadaches.com Message Board (http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi)
New Message Board Archives >> Jan-Mar 2004 >> Marijuana
(Message started by: MartinW on Jan 27th, 2004, 7:18pm)

Title: Marijuana
Post by MartinW on Jan 27th, 2004, 7:18pm
Hello everyone! This is my first post here as I just found out what i've been suffering from.  I am fairly intimidated by this in part because untill today i had never heard of such a thing, But thanks to this site i have a huge source of information and a warm feeling of a support group, now back to the topic :).

I am a marijuana smoker and noticed that the last few times i've smoked it triggered a headache, and whats more, last night, before I saw a doctor today i drank 4-5 beers and expericned no problems. Has anyone else had and experiences with clusters and marijuana? Maybe someone could point me to a site with some research on the subject. The only thing i found here was an unanswered post asking about marijuana as a treatment.  Thanks everyone in advance for your help. And expect to hear some more from me on the subject as i plan to to some experiments myself (that is of couse if i have the blessing of the boards to continue with this topic)
-Martin

Title: Re: Marijuana
Post by Prense on Jan 27th, 2004, 7:22pm

on 01/27/04 at 19:18:54, MartinW wrote:
And expect to hear some more from me on the subject as i plan to to some experiments myself (that is of couse if i have the blessing of the boards to continue with this topic)


If you experiment with anything, please let us know how it goes!

I seem to recall some folks have claimed it triggers as quickly as beer.  It's been a while though.

Welcome aboard!

Chris

Title: Re: Marijuana
Post by t_h_b on Jan 27th, 2004, 7:43pm
If you can drink a lot of beer without getting hit, are you sure you have cluster headaches?

Title: Re: Marijuana
Post by jonny on Jan 27th, 2004, 7:49pm

on 01/27/04 at 19:43:03, t_h_b wrote:
If you can drink a lot of beer without getting hit, are you sure you have cluster headaches?


Hmmmmmm, Im 29 years chronic and have never been triggered by beer and I drink it everyday.

LOL...sorry...had to nail ya with that one, there are not many of us out there but we are out there....I like to think of it as pay back for all the pain ;;D

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

Title: Re: Marijuana
Post by MartinW on Jan 27th, 2004, 7:50pm
That was the first thing i thought of when i read about alcohol triggering it, But the symptoms match exactly otherwise, This is only my second cycle, my first being almost exactly a year ago, and i saw no doctor about it because i thought it was a sinus problem and waited it out, i guess only time will tell, i am still new to this and reading all that i can about it to be sure this is what i am suffering from. The study that i was reading that directed me to this site initially had some statistics of a study done on sufferers of clusterhead and it said 90% of people in the study were triggered by alcohol, i'm just wondering now if i'm one of the other 10% or my doctor is mistaken and i have some other peorblem that resembles clusters

Title: Re: Marijuana
Post by thomas on Jan 27th, 2004, 8:01pm
pot takes my ch to a whole new level,scary....bad

Title: Re: Marijuana
Post by Little Deb on Jan 27th, 2004, 8:10pm
Well, all I can say, besides WELCOME!, is........
fly to Raleigh this weekend, and bring some with you so we ALL can experiment!!!!!


helpin' a brother out.....little deb ;;D

Title: Re: Marijuana
Post by jonny on Jan 27th, 2004, 8:18pm

on 01/27/04 at 20:10:51, Little Deb wrote:
Well, all I can say, besides WELCOME!, is........
fly to Raleigh this weekend, and bring some with you so we ALL can experiment!!!!!


helpin' a brother out.....little deb ;;D


LMMFAO!!!!! ;;D

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

Title: Re: Marijuana
Post by MartinW on Jan 27th, 2004, 8:19pm
LOL, this weekend is no good for me, going camping on an island off south florida that is if i don't get thrown overboard for bitching about my head, the Large scale Marijuana study will have to wait, ohhh and we should have a buffet too

Title: Re: Marijuana
Post by Kirk on Jan 27th, 2004, 8:26pm
Alcohol doesn't trigger CH for me. Pot does. Go figure.

[smiley=smokin.gif]

Title: Re: Marijuana
Post by phishphan on Jan 27th, 2004, 8:41pm
Martin,,
Yes marijuana does bring on a clusterheadache.
Mine started with Pot..Only when I smoked ...as soon as I smoked a huge one came on..Only one sideded.
I believe that its when you blood pressure goes up alot a headaches comes on...And pot does raise your pressure alot..
Ask your doctor to prescribe verapamil..This tends to help..Not completely. I guess that smoking pot and the headache beast are something that we have to live with.As long as we smoke..The headache will come...Some medications can make it less intence..
One guy told me that imitrex nasal spray helps to be able to puff...
Hope I helped.

Title: Re: Marijuana
Post by MartinW on Jan 27th, 2004, 9:02pm
wow thanks guys, This is the quickest replying messageboard i've ever used! I'm also happy to say that approx. 1 hour and 20 min ago i smoked a normal amount and i still feel great, but i'm not sure if it is linked with the prednisone i was prescribed as it was my first day on the prescription today, also the prednisone makes my body feel like i've been worked by 13 drunken men with baseball bats, does that get any better as the dosage goes down?

Title: Re: Marijuana
Post by BlueMeanie on Jan 27th, 2004, 9:14pm
Welcome Martin:

Beer & Marijuana are both known to trigger MOST Clusterheads.

jonny & a few others are lucky. (If you partake in that kind of stuff). LOL

All triggers are different for each of us. Just stay away from you own concoctions please. Let the docs give you the right meds to try.

Title: Re: Marijuana
Post by t_h_b on Jan 27th, 2004, 9:19pm
Hey, Jonny,

Since you can drink a lot of beer without getting hit, are you sure you have cluster headaches?  Maybe you really have migraines! Or a chronic sinus infection?  Or you just need glasses....

[smiley=beer.gif]


Title: Re: Marijuana
Post by BlueMeanie on Jan 27th, 2004, 9:23pm

on 01/27/04 at 21:19:11, t_h_b wrote:
Hey, Jonny,

Since you can drink a lot of beer without getting hit, are you sure you have cluster headaches?  Maybe you really have migraines! Or a chronic sinus infection?  Or you just need glasses....

[smiley=beer.gif]


Boy are you asking for it. LMAO

Title: Re: Marijuana
Post by Little Deb on Jan 27th, 2004, 9:33pm
Why don't ya just ask jonny if he is sure he is male!
You might as well say he is a female and females don't get clusters!

You really ARE asking for it!!!

LOLOLOLOLOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Title: Re: Marijuana
Post by fubar on Jan 27th, 2004, 10:37pm

on 01/27/04 at 21:19:11, t_h_b wrote:
Hey, Jonny,

Since you can drink a lot of beer without getting hit, are you sure you have cluster headaches?  Maybe you really have migraines! Or a chronic sinus infection?  Or you just need glasses....

[smiley=beer.gif]


OMG LMFAO

That was so funny I spilled my beer all over my doobie.

-Fu

Title: Re: Marijuana
Post by brain_cramps on Jan 27th, 2004, 10:44pm

on 01/27/04 at 22:37:01, fubar wrote:
OMG LMFAO

That was so funny I spilled my beer all over my doobie.

-Fu


BWAAAAAAAHAAAAAAAAHAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!     [smiley=crackup.gif]

Title: Re: Marijuana
Post by Prense on Jan 27th, 2004, 11:07pm

on 01/27/04 at 21:23:30, BlueMeanie wrote:
Boy are you asking for it. LMAO


Heh...

Someone stand by the fire extinguishers.

Title: Re: Marijuana
Post by Tiannia on Jan 27th, 2004, 11:20pm

on 01/27/04 at 21:19:11, t_h_b wrote:
Hey, Jonny,

Since you can drink a lot of beer without getting hit, are you sure you have cluster headaches?  Maybe you really have migraines! Or a chronic sinus infection?  Or you just need glasses....

[smiley=beer.gif]


Oh fuck I cant wait to see this one. Jonny getting Meeegines????


Martin,

I'm not a big beer drinker but I do drink rum, but I dont find that it triggers it every time, so I really dont consider it a trigger at all.  It usually comes from other crap that comes on during the day that when I have a drink at night that I'll end up getting hit. but as a chonic, I figure what the hell I'm gonna get hit anyway might as well get hit now rather then later.  [smiley=ohjez.gif]

Sorry you had to find us, butyou did come to the right place.

Tiannia

Title: Re: Marijuana
Post by 357Mag on Jan 27th, 2004, 11:25pm

on 01/27/04 at 20:10:51, Little Deb wrote:
Well, all I can say, besides WELCOME!, is........
fly to Raleigh this weekend, and bring some with you so we ALL can experiment!!!!!


If u were serious, i can accomidate!!!

Welcome to your new family Martin, and a BIG Thank U for possing this Question. Iwas too damn chicken.

Being a pothead since high school and now as close to 50 without being 50, well....lots of doobies.....

Anyway....I just discoverd that during cycle, I need to leave it alone. Alcohol is ok, but not the weed. Thankfully my cycle is only 6 to 10 weeks long.

Welcome again Martin.
-dan

Title: Re: Marijuana
Post by don on Jan 27th, 2004, 11:51pm
As a general rule for most sufferers your CH attacks will return when you get to the lower doses of the prednisone. The way to prevent that from happening is to take a preventative med along with and after the prednisone taper.

Title: Re: Marijuana
Post by Wonderingwhy on Jan 28th, 2004, 12:15am
I'm not sure if it triggers them but it makes narcs go alot further with there properties. Not that narcotics are any good for CH, anyways.

Title: Re: Marijuana
Post by TxBasslady on Jan 28th, 2004, 1:48am
IMHO     I have NEVER been able to understand why a clusterhead will engage in an activity/and or substance that they KNOW will trigger a ch.

Sheesh...........common sense DOES NOT abound for some.

Good grief...................ch is an absolute disaster to our families.  It changes lives and destroys lives.  

If you have no family, and noone that cares about you or loves you..........then smoke away!!!   But don't whine about the headaches, if you consistently partake of those things that are known triggers.

There's alot of chronics here that consume alcohol.  However, the alcohol does not seem to trigger ch.  No matter what they do.....they are gonna get hit.  Therefore, I make an exception for them.  But for episodics......PROBABLY NOT a good idea.

Not a judgement........just my opinion.

Jean

Title: Re: Marijuana
Post by jmorgan52 on Jan 28th, 2004, 2:27am
About 25 or more years ago, when I was a big drinker, long before any of my doctors heard about CH, I thought my HA's may have been CAUSED by beer! Go figure. Drink a few beers and wham I would get hit. Same thing with the occasional weed.

I tried drinking whisky instead during some cycles and suffered a bit less, then tried not drinking or smoking at all during some cycles and was hit even less. But... I still got hit. Always seemed to be summertime when I got in cycle so I blamed it on the heat, or air presssure, or stress or whatever because the doctors knew fuck all and some said it was in my mind - bastards! Now it seems that giving up booze only helps to stop them triggering at the wrong moment.

I try and avoid booze completely when in cycle and gave up smoking (anything at all) some 20 odd years ago. I still get hit a lot but the worst thing you can do is go out on a social occasion and get hit big time, then and there just because you took a few drinks. Rather wait until you get home and get hit at 2am (?)   :-[ at least it won't (may not?) ruin the evening.

John

Title: Re: Marijuana
Post by 357Mag on Jan 28th, 2004, 2:31am

on 01/28/04 at 01:48:46, TxBasslady wrote:
IMHO     I have NEVER been able to understand why a clusterhead will engage in an activity/and or substance that they KNOW will trigger a ch.

Sheesh...........common sense DOES NOT abound for some.

Good grief...................ch is an absolute disaster to our families.  It changes lives and destroys lives.  

If you have no family, and noone that cares about you or loves you..........then smoke away!!!   But don't whine about the headaches, if you consistently partake of those things that are known triggers.

There's alot of chronics here that consume alcohol.  However, the alcohol does not seem to trigger ch.  No matter what they do.....they are gonna get hit.  Therefore, I make an exception for them.  But for episodics......PROBABLY NOT a good idea.

Not a judgement........just my opinion.

Jean


Jean, I couldn't agree with you more.

This is the first cycle in which i have been able to determine ANYTHING about what is going on for a number of reasons...
1) still don't have an 'official' diag of clusters, that comes tomorrow.
2) since the docs saw fit to have me on pain meds for meegraines they always caused rebound HA's. This is the first cycle i have had no pain meds so that cause is elimintated.
3) have researched THC and meegraines and there is evidence that it may be of soome help. [like cancer]
4) Never found any evidence that it is a trigger until I upped my topomax last monday AND stopped smoking same night. did a test Sunday w/some smoke and got hit. Light went off and now i KNOW to stay away when in cycle. BUT, 13 months when not in cycle it causes no problem.

Just wanted you to know that once we have the facts and have a doc that provides the PROPER diag, we do have comon sense.

PF days to you,
-dan

Title: Re: Marijuana
Post by Janzokris on Jan 28th, 2004, 2:56am
I get hit BADLY when I drink any sort of alcohol, I mainly drink Bailey`s, some beer but not much. I am always aware that CH can hit me at any time so I try to avoid alcohol but then again Bailey`s is just so bloody good with crushed ice........ the only downside is I cant use my imigran jabs when I drink so Im stuck with the CH. Well it says you cant use the jabs but has anyone tried them after drinking???

Janet
pf at the minute (thank god)

Title: Re: Marijuana
Post by UN_SOLVED on Jan 28th, 2004, 3:16am
Yes, you can use Imitrex after drinking. [been there, done that]

UN_SOLVED

Title: Re: Marijuana
Post by jmorgan52 on Jan 28th, 2004, 3:19am
Janet

If I have a drink or 2 or 3 (being stupid when in cycle)and start to get a CH (which usual   :-[ )
I give myself 1/3 of an inj (or more) and stop drinking. The pain goes away. I reckon disregard any advice that says do not drink and use imigran (unless you are totally pissed!) But if you have only had a few drinks I reckon it is ok

John

Title: Re: Marijuana
Post by Janzokris on Jan 28th, 2004, 3:32am
Thanks guys for the advice

As it usually hits me before I even have my first glass finished I would normally stop drinking and take a painkiller instead but know that I know I can have an injection instead I maybe will finish that one glass  [smiley=laugh.gif]
Such a social life I have NOT  :-[

Janet

Title: Re: Marijuana
Post by jmorgan52 on Jan 28th, 2004, 3:49am
Janet

Did you try the imtrex tip yet? If you now have 20 injections then you can spin them out to 40 or 60 shots using this technique, especially if you do it as soon as you feel the pain start. If you wait too long you may need a bigger dose. I/3 or 1/2 an inj always works for me.

If you need help with the method feel free to IM me.

John

Title: Re: Marijuana
Post by BarbaraD on Jan 28th, 2004, 4:23am
Beer triggers mine - not other alcohol - figure that one. So I STOPPED drinking beer ( you know the theory - It HURTS when I do that - So DON'T do that!!!)

Pot on the other hand --- Found some in Jamacia that would stop a HA with one hit, but unfortunately I had to come back thru Miami, so it was NOT a good idea to bring any with me. This homegrown stuff around here doesn't affect it one way or the other. But the Jamacian stuff worked better than trex. Maybe I'll move to Jamacia... No problems mon!!!!!

Hugs BD

Title: Re: Marijuana
Post by Edski_1 on Jan 28th, 2004, 7:58am
I have found no rel correlation between intoxicants...except *perhaps*

1) bourbons might have a slight CH trigger
2) bad weed might have a trigger effect...

Otherwise the beast comes and goes as it pleases...as I've tried to keep better notes, vodka drinks have treated me better than beer...as long as I keep them relatively dilute, and sip them slowly...

I have noticed my smoke intake (I only smoke the flower...hehehe) has slowed way way way down in cycle...just not fun I guess with CH...been so long so again can't remeber my last cycle 14 years ago.

Title: Re: Marijuana
Post by thomas on Jan 28th, 2004, 8:27am

on 01/27/04 at 23:25:54, 357Mag wrote:
Anyway....I just discoverd that during cycle, I need to leave it alone.

BINGO!!!!!!!!!  Martin, are you listening?

Title: Re: Marijuana
Post by Giovanni on Jan 28th, 2004, 9:06am
Welcome to clusterville Martin!

Alcohol equals instant headache when I'm in cycle.  I can't answer the question on THC.  I test myself when the cycle is "over" by drinking a martini.

Suggestion on the THC, trade in the weed for some fungi and rid yourself of the headache instead of creating one. LOL

;;D

Title: Re: Marijuana
Post by Wifeofchman on Jan 28th, 2004, 9:49am
I don't know too many who would make that trade!

Title: Re: Marijuana
Post by echo on Jan 28th, 2004, 9:53am
I can only drink Miller High Life without the risk of a triggered CH.

Pot - When I used to partake it would abort a CH for me.

Let's get on our lab coats and experiment for awhile.   ;;D

Title: Re: Marijuana
Post by don on Jan 28th, 2004, 10:29am

Quote:
Hey, Jonny,

Since you can drink a lot of beer without getting hit, are you sure you have cluster headaches?  Maybe you really have migraines! Or a chronic sinus infection?  Or you just need glasses....


I think he has bad teef.

Do you get an attack when they are in the glass on the side of the bed? If so move the glass further away or add lithium to the water they are floating in.   8)

Title: Re: Marijuana
Post by CJohnson on Jan 28th, 2004, 11:27am
 THC binds to certain receptors in your brain which can cause CGRP (calcitonin gene related peptide) to be released. A sudden burst of CGRP could trigger the headache process. There is a strong relationship between CGRP and CH, so this could play some role.

PFDANs
-Curtis

Title: Re: Marijuana
Post by Ouch on Jan 28th, 2004, 12:16pm
You should all just sa ;)y no to drugs!!!

Title: Re: Marijuana
Post by River_Rat on Jan 28th, 2004, 12:19pm
For me, all booze is a trigger, as for weed I rarely smoke it anymore (well, I don't buy it anymore), When I did smoke regularly, It was a trigger.

That's all I have to say about that.

Welcome aboard!

Norm

Title: Re: Marijuana
Post by miCHel on Jan 28th, 2004, 1:00pm
Welcome Martin!

Booze and weed are both triggers for me and I have experienced it numerous times.  So I never touch the stuff while in cycle.

One good thing is that it proves to me that I am not totally dependent  :P

But don't worry, I make up plenty during the rest of the year  ;)

miCHel

Title: Re: Marijuana
Post by Cerberus on Jan 28th, 2004, 5:03pm
Well well well,

Finally a subject I know more than just a little about. I smoke on a regular basis and through my personal experimentation I should say that: It would seem that the lesser the quaity of the smoke, the worse the headaches get.
 The Previous cycle I had a unique opportunity to have more of a controlled experiment. I had purchased a small amount of really really quality hybrid, and an equally small portion of not so good, yet still effective stuff.
 The results? well, I found (at least in my case) that the higher quality had little to no effect on intensity or frequency of the HA's. In fact it almost helped in the sense that (I was so baked that I didn't care as much) but that is it, no cure, no stoppage, just stoned. However the results with the lesser quality definately has the effect of worsening the intensity. I suspect it has something to do with the purity of the plant itself.

So there ya have it, if you find out anything more than that pls feel free to share our results. :)

best of luck!
Ramon

Title: Re: Marijuana
Post by Mr.Happy on Jan 28th, 2004, 5:29pm

on 01/28/04 at 17:03:35, Cerberus wrote:
However the results with the lesser quality definately has the effect of worsening the intensity.


Damn, so that's the problem......I got shitty pot. Cappy, share some of that CIA stash you got hidden away. You know, the stuff that makes a fried egg look like your Brain.  I've never, EVER looked at an egg and thought it was a brain. Not once. Fork over the good stuff........mine just triggers a CH.

Zig Zagged,
RJ

Title: Re: Marijuana
Post by tommyD on Jan 28th, 2004, 6:03pm

Quote:
Suggestion on the THC, trade in the weed for some fungi and rid yourself of the headache instead of creating one. LOL



Quote:
I don't know too many who would make that trade!


I do. Dozens and dozens of folks. Gotta be the right fungi, of course. And it may be possible to find relief without getting very high at all...

Read this carefully: www.clusterbusters.com

and browse the Medications board for more on what might turn out to be the best treatment for CH yet found.  No joke.

-tommyD

Title: Re: Marijuana
Post by River_Rat on Jan 28th, 2004, 6:47pm

on 01/28/04 at 17:03:35, Cerberus wrote:
Well well well,

Finally a subject I know more than just a little about. I smoke on a regular basis


Ramon, When we was in IOWA and the tattoo guy passed that joint around Sunday morning just before you got your tatt, I felt very self-concious as I hit that muther, thinkin wow I hope Ramon don't think bad of me.

And to find out your a stoner after all, Just a little puzzled now, as to why you didn't partake.

PFDAN

NORM


Title: Re: Marijuana
Post by jonny on Jan 28th, 2004, 7:02pm

on 01/27/04 at 21:19:11, t_h_b wrote:
Hey, Jonny,

Since you can drink a lot of beer without getting hit, are you sure you have cluster headaches?  Maybe you really have migraines! Or a chronic sinus infection?  Or you just need glasses....


Yeah, thats it...Im a cluster sufferer wannabe.....LMMFAO ;;D

http://www.sydes.net/jokes/flash/beer.swf

Thanks for the link, Kim  ;)

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

Title: Truckin......
Post by Mr.Happy on Jan 28th, 2004, 9:05pm

on 01/28/04 at 18:03:08, tommyD wrote:
Read this carefully: www.clusterbusters.com

and browse the Medications board for more on what might turn out to be the best treatment for CH yet found.  No joke.


Dangit, Tom.......ya can lead `em to water, but ya can't make  `em have cheap sex. You've given it your best shot, mate.

Fuck `em if they can't take a joke,
RJ

Title: Re: Marijuana
Post by mediccpc on Feb 2nd, 2004, 11:05am
I actually had a friend tell me to try weed when I have a headache. Well for science, and pain I did. I found that after the Imtrex is gone, and the third headache is comming on, if I smoked the pain was not as intense. I find I can actually fell asleep before the pain gets out of hand.

Title: Re: Marijuana
Post by BobG on Feb 2nd, 2004, 11:47am
Bubba "Hey Doc, last night I poked a stick in my eye and it hurt"
Doc "Ok tell me more"
Bubba "This morning I poked my eye with the stick again and it hurt again. What's wrong with my stick? Is it broken?"
Doc " If it hurts, don't do it!"
Bubba "Do ya think if I poked my eye one more time it would stop hurting?"
Doc "Are your parents brother and sister?"

Title: Re: Marijuana
Post by fubar on Feb 2nd, 2004, 1:08pm
I've tried to keep my mouth shut on this one, but here I go... I've never been accused of being 'the quiet one'.

There are 2 kinds of pot, Sensilmilla and Indica.  Each has many unique strains, all with widely varying compositions of psychoactive chemicals.

Indica originated in Afghanistan, and is less common than Sensi.  Sensi grows naturally all over the world.

Now, on the question of "is it bad for headaches, or a trigger, or a preventative, or an abortive..."

It is extremely difficult to say with any accuracy that 'pot' does anything at all.  The problem is there is no standardization of what chemicals are being delivered to your body.  Even the same exact plant can deliver a different mix of chemicals to your body depending on how you injest it (eat, smoke, pipe, joint, whatever)  The temperature that it is burned at makes a difference.  Smoking in a joint forces the by-products and resin to be concentrated as the joint burns down (the last hit is very different chemically than the first)... all kinds of things change what is being injested.

So, it's nothing like saying "a shot of Imitrex does *this* to me".  You can't just say 'pot' does 'X' to me.

What it comes down to, as it has been said many times before, if it hurts DON'T DO IT.  Personally, I find some specific strains to be very helpful for migraines.  Other strains make the migraine 10x worse.  I know what works for me, and I'm lucky in that California allows me to buy the exact strains I want, legally.  The dispensery has at least 20 specific strains at any given time.  That's a hell of a lot better than trying to figure out what the hell your buddy scored across town.

There is real research happening on THC.  Hopefully someday they'll standardize the doses so that it's not such a crap shoot.



Clusterheadaches.com Message Board » Powered by YaBB 1 Gold - SP 1.3.1!
YaBB © 2000-2003. All Rights Reserved.