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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> A question about Medication side effects
        
(Message started by: dkmy1903 on Mar 26^th, 2006, 8:56am)

Title: A question about Medication side effects
Post by dkmy1903 on Mar 26^th, 2006, 8:56am

Hello Everyone! I'm pretty new here but the site has already given me peace of mind in the knowledge that I'm not alone in fighting the beast. I've been given a cocktail of medication as preventive treatment - Depalept, Ikapress and cafergot. The cocktail is pretty effective, but I'm feeling nauseous. absent minded, tired - in short, pretty bad. Has anyone else tried this cocktail and experienced something similar?

Title: Re: A question about Medication side effects
Post by Bob_Johnson on Mar 26^th, 2006, 9:06am

The first two meds you name are brands unknown in the U.S. (The same meds have different brand names around the world.)

Send us the generic/drug name.

Title: Re: A question about Medication side effects
Post by dkmy1903 on Mar 26^th, 2006, 9:18am

Depalept is also used to treat Epilepsy (!) and Ikapress is used to reduce high blood pressure - which I don't have... but probably the combination is effective. I'll post the drug names soon.

Title: Re: A question about Medication side effects
Post by thebbz on Mar 26^th, 2006, 10:44pm

Depakote and Lopressor????? [smiley=huh.gif]
Just guessing
8)

Title: Re: A question about Medication side effects
Post by dkmy1903 on Mar 27^th, 2006, 2:24am

Depalept is sold in the US as Depacon (Valproate Sodium) and Ikapress as Verapamil

Title: Re: A question about Medication side effects
Post by Bob_Johnson on Mar 27^th, 2006, 11:42am

Here is a link to read and print and take to your doctor. It describes preventive, transitional, abortive and surgical treatments for CH. (2002)

http://www.brightok.net/~mnjday/chtherapy.pdf
---
This is an excellent overview of current treatments in the U.S.; written by one of the better headache doc here.
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I'd guess that the symptoms you report come from the Depalept although some people are sensitive to blood pressure meds, also. The Cafergot is pretty benign in terms of side effects although it has fallen from favor here for Cluster because it's slow acting.

I'd suggest you print out the first document and use it as a way of discussing options with your doctor.

Title: Re: A question about Medication side effects
Post by SophiaK on Apr 8^th, 2006, 8:57am

I'm just home from a week in the hospital. My liver is reacting to the meds given to me for CH, namely Depakote. I also developed A fib, I don't know if that is because of all the meds I was given. I cannot take any kinds of pain relieving drugs anymore because of the damage to my liver, I am on lenvonox (sp) along with digoxen, lopressor and verapamil, and in a weaken state. Will write more on this terrible condition. HA's are slamming me about every 3 hours. It's one hell of a predicament.

Title: Re: A question about Medication side effects
Post by Karla on Apr 8^th, 2006, 2:21pm

The verapamil made me tired, have shallowed breathing, low blood pressure, constipation and eventually at 960mg/day an irregular heart beat. I was taken off the medicine.

I am allergic to depakote so can't comment on that medicine.

Title: Re: A question about Medication side effects
Post by burnt-toast on Apr 9^th, 2006, 5:01am

As previously noted:

Depalept (Valporate Sodium / Valporate Acid)

Ikapress (Verapamil)

cafergot (Ergotamine and Caffeine)

Here are two good links to better understand the potential side effects.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginformation.html

http://www.drugs.com

Best wishes,

Tom