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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> which anti seizure med best to prevent cluster?
        
(Message started by: Radha on Apr 24^th, 2006, 11:38pm)

Title: which anti seizure med best to prevent cluster?
Post by Radha on Apr 24^th, 2006, 11:38pm

can anyone please tell me which anti seizure med is best for preventing number of clusters and which has least side effects? i dont want to be worrying about kidney stones, or weight gain, any info would be appreciated, i cant take veramperil coz i am already on alot of beta blockers, thanks
radha

Title: Re: which anti seizure med best to prevent cluster
Post by jhammer on Apr 25^th, 2006, 12:42pm

Last year Topomax worked pretty good for me. I have an extensive history of producing kidney stones but none appeared during or after my cycle last summer while on Topomax. In fact, I haven't even had one since come to think of it.

It is a known side effect though...I just got lucky I guess. To be honest, I'd rather pass a hundred kidney stones then suffer 3 months of CH's.

~Jake

Title: Re: which anti seizure med best to prevent cluster
Post by nani on Apr 25^th, 2006, 3:27pm

That's a tough question. Some have had success with and some not had success with all of them. I used Neurontin for a loong time, when I was chronic. I was up to 1800 - 2400 mgs a day. I definitely gained weight. But I really think it helped dull the attacks for me. I mostly stayed below a k6, unless I was in high cycle. The side effects I had at first were dizziness and feeling kind of "buzzed" or fuzzy. They went away quickly. I wish the weight would, LOL. :-/

Title: Re: which anti seizure med best to prevent cluster
Post by Lizzie2 on Apr 25^th, 2006, 4:08pm

Topamax and Depakote are often listed as the most helpful for CH, except you won't find much enthusiasm about either one here. There are definitely those who have had some success with topamax, and I'm so glad for those people it's really helped without too many side effects.

Escaping side effects is more or less impossible for most people, but one thing to remember is that not every person gets every side effect. Are kidney stones a side effect of topamax? Yes. I never got them, though - nor did a lot of other people.

The best thing about side effects is that usually if you start experiencing them, you can taper down off the med and it's all over. So that's a good thing. :)

I'd say topamax probably is the most-prescribed antiseizure for CH at the moment...

Best of luck!
Carrie :)

Title: Re: which anti seizure med best to prevent cluster
Post by SophiaK on Apr 25^th, 2006, 4:16pm

topamax and depakote both caused my liver enzymes to soar.
As a result I cannot take any kind of pain relieving med, right night I'm having back to back CH, awaken 3 times last night and so far today I have had 3 slams. If you can't take sufla drug, don't take topamax. Look up all the reactions to any of the meds. I only took 2 topamax on two different occassions and had a adverse reaction both times. I was on depakote for 3 weeks in Febuary and March and my liver enzymes have yet to return to normal. Everyone is different, be aware of the adverse reactions that MIGHT occur. Good luck, and stay close. S

Title: Re: which anti seizure med best to prevent cluster
Post by unsolved1 on Apr 25^th, 2006, 5:24pm

The "best" is whatever works for you to prevent or help with Clusters.

The Topomax gave me kidney stones twice. The first time requiring surgery. (Lithotripsay) (sp)

Goodluck on your quest for a medication to fight "The Beast". !

PF Wishes
UNsolved

Title: Re: which anti seizure med best to prevent cluster
Post by Radha on Apr 25^th, 2006, 11:22pm

thanks so so much for all your replies, is there some predispostion or some way of maybe predicting if you will get kidney stones? i mean is there some prior health condition that might increase your chances of getting them? thanks again for all your help, and how long does it take for drugs like topomax to start working? and what is the standard dose?
radha

Title: Re: which anti seizure med best to prevent cluster
Post by unsolved1 on Apr 26^th, 2006, 12:55am

You are more likely to get kidney stones if you are male, if you've had them before, or if your are on a Kinetic diet. Your chances of developing stones are between 2 - 4%.

UNsolved

Title: Re: which anti seizure med best to prevent cluster
Post by Lizzie2 on Apr 26^th, 2006, 9:06am

And one thing that helps to prevent stones, no matter what the risk, is hydration. That's the key with topamax. Take the pill with a full glass of water and drink plenty more throughout the day. It's not only good for preventing kidney stones, but it's good for you anyways...provided you don't have a medical condition that requires you to restrict your fluid intake.

Not saying that prevents stones in all people because for some, like Michael, they just seem inevitable. BUT - it doesn't hurt and can help prevent them, especially if you aren't predisposed already! I recently thought I may have had a stone and each time my pain got worse and worse, it seemed to be occurring when I was dehydrated and improved with more water intake. It just helps dilute down what your kidneys are filtering. If you have a small enough stone, sometimes it can pass without pain if you're hydrated enough... Obviously not possible for everyone, but it can happen!

Best of luck!
Carrie :)

Title: Re: which anti seizure med best to prevent cluster
Post by I_can_dance on Apr 26^th, 2006, 1:59pm

According to a pharmacist friend, trileptal is similar to topomax but with fewer side-effects. I don't know about its effectiveness though.

Title: Re: which anti seizure med best to prevent cluster
Post by Radha on Apr 26^th, 2006, 11:32pm

thanks so much for the info, i am female and have never gotten kidney stones, and drink alot of water, i will look into the trileptal, thanks for the suggestion
radha

Title: Re: which anti seizure med best to prevent cluster
Post by chewy on Apr 27^th, 2006, 7:36am

Personally I wouldn't waste time and money on anti siezure meds unless it was complimentary to a proven preventative.