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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> cyproheptadine
        
(Message started by: troy on Jan 9^th, 2006, 8:37pm)

Title: cyproheptadine
Post by troy on Jan 9^th, 2006, 8:37pm

hello all, an update on my current cycle. I switched to the standard release verapamil as suggested and it seems to be making a difference, nothing above a kip 5 since switching. I saw a new neuro today Dr. Gill, he seems to be very knowlegable about cluster headaches. I was very impressed considering in the past with other docs they didn't seem to know very much. I told him about the verapamil and he agreed that this is pobably the best preventive right now, and then he said he wanted me to try periactin 8mg at bedtime, and to continue taking the verapamil. The generic name is cyproheptadine and is usually used for the treatment of allergies, but Dr. Gill said he has had success treating other cluster headache patients with this med. Has anyone here ever tried this and if so would you say it was affective.
wishing pfdta Troy.

Title: Re: cyproheptadine
Post by E-Double on Jan 9^th, 2006, 8:45pm

Nope but glad the change has helped!

Title: Re: cyproheptadine
Post by MJ on Jan 10^th, 2006, 2:38am

Hi Troy

Periactin is an antihistamine. I used it when I was first diagnosed with CH in the early 80s and CH was referred to as histamine headaches, not sure if that still stands. It may have helped just a wee bit but not enough to keep using it.
Its certainly worth giving it a go. No side effects that I remember.

MJ

Title: Re: cyproheptadine
Post by floridian on Jan 10^th, 2006, 2:36pm

Although cyproheptadine is an antihistamine, it also blocks the serotonin 5-HT2a receptors. So it has some action like kudzu and olanzapine.

There's an article on histamine and cluster headache in the most recent OUCH newsletter - http://www.ouch-us.org/newsletters/12-2005/12-2005.pdf

Title: Re: cyproheptadine
Post by Jett on Jan 20^th, 2006, 10:50am

I, too, have recently been put on cyphroheptadine for the first time. I was on a combination of 600 mg. lithium and 240-360 mg of Verapamil daily, with melatonin at night before bed. That was working and I thought I was out of the cycle. Then I started another cycle on the other side of my head, a rarity for me. My dr. prescribed cypro at bedtime (1-2 pills - I don't recall the dose). When I took one pill, it didn't do anything adn I still had a 5 AM headache. On two pills now and, with the lithium and verapamil, it seems to be doing the trick. No CHs for 3 weeks now. I will start to taper off to see what happens.

Good luck.

Title: Re: cyproheptadine
Post by chewy on Jan 24^th, 2006, 7:56am

Tried periactin. No help with the CH.

Switched to Melatonin.