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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> Taurine
        
(Message started by: starlight on Jul 26^th, 2006, 2:20pm)

Title: Taurine
Post by starlight on Jul 26^th, 2006, 2:20pm

I started taking taurine this morning--I am going to try 500 mg three times a day. The reason for this is that I am in 2 1/2 weeks into the 8 weeks cycle--it seems for me that melatonin has been miraculous in a lot of ways however my body seems become immune to its effects so that I add 3 mg to my dose every 2 nights now--every time I add three more mg it helps me for two nights in a row and then the CH start breaking through full-force like gangbusters. I am up to 18 mg now--last night still waking up every 90 minutes with pain but huge improvement--just had to walk around didn't need O2 till the morning--this will work for another night and then my body will become immune. I am also getting the CH now in the evening--damn headaches. Anyway, two things--1) has anyone gone higher than this (18 mg) with the melatonin? 2) Right now I am also adding taurine and will let people know how it goes. I would love to hear about anyone's experience with taurine (and amounts taken)--it helps me figure out a plan. Cause I got six more weeks to go--Thanks guys/gals and wishing you all painfree.

Starlight

Title: Re: Taurine
Post by Charlotte on Jul 26^th, 2006, 3:49pm

Have you read Barry's trial of taurine?

http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=meds;action=display;num=1146013283

...and how much taurine to aboart...

http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=meds;action=display;num=1153625827

Charlotte

Title: Re: Taurine
Post by starlight on Jul 26^th, 2006, 6:19pm

Charlotte,

Thankyou for the links! I had not seen the second link. I did get the idea and the amount for the taurine from Barry's thread! I am hopeful that it (the taurine) will be helpful b/c I don't really want to keep upping the melatonin 3 mg every two days (it just seems like I will end up being on a lot). This place has been a Godsend with all of the ideas and information--to feel like you have tools to fight this thing...
Starlight

Title: Re: Taurine
Post by ShaneM on Jul 26^th, 2006, 6:23pm

Star,
I was just posting briefly with Barry on the subject the other day. He said that his Blog was not up to date, but I looked at it anyway. Very promising! I may try myself. He told me that he would be out in the bush for the rest of this week but would be back this weekend. I am sure that he will see this thread then.

Let us know.. and good luck.

Shane ;)

Title: Re: Taurine
Post by starlight on Jul 26^th, 2006, 6:31pm

Shane,

Thanks a million for the support! I just looked at your thread with Barry--it certainly does look incredibly promising. I'm giving it a go...definitely let us know how it goes for you if you end up giving it a try yourself! I would be very interested to hear how it goes for you! Wishing you PFDAN, Starlight

Title: Re: Taurine
Post by TxBasslady on Aug 4^th, 2006, 1:39am

I took Melatonin for a long time. It did make a significant difference.

Instead of upping the Melatonin....when the CH broke thru...I took less. This worked just fine for a while...and when the CH broke thru again, I would up to the amount I dropped....make sense? [smiley=huh.gif]

Just remember....more is not always better. I yo-yoed the Melatonin...to fit my need at the time.

Just a suggestion...I do realize we're all very different.

Jean

Title: Re: Taurine
Post by kcopelin on Aug 4^th, 2006, 11:14am

I added benadryl to the melatonin-worked like charm so far...as for the taurine-am waiting for my shipment to arrive-this could be really exciting...its alot cheaper than the energy drinks-I also ordered the carnitine and a B complex-kinda picked the first few ingredients. Figure I will wash it down with some mega coffee.
Best wishes for PFDAN ahead!
kathy

Title: Re: Taurine
Post by starlight on Aug 4^th, 2006, 11:42am

TXBasslady,

Thank you for your tip! I will try to lower it--it is worth a try. Cause it works so damn good when I have the right dose. Were you lowering it 3 mg or 6 mg? Starlight

Title: Re: Taurine
Post by TxBasslady on Aug 4^th, 2006, 12:34pm

I only lowered or upped 3 mg. I was afraid changing it 6 mg. might be too much.

The most I ever took was 12 mg.

I started taking the Kudzu Feb, 05...but for me, the Melatonin and Kudzu mix didn't work. I dropped the Melatonin, and stayed with the Zu till Dec, 05.

My Doc gave me a Rx for 02....and fortunately, it's done a great job so far. With a Clustermasx, I can abort in 2-5 minutes, depending on how soon I hit the 02.

Good luck,

Jean

Title: Re: Taurine
Post by Radha on Aug 10^th, 2006, 1:10am

why does the taurine makes the clusters worse and for how long does it make it worse before you get relief? i am starting with 500mg 3 times a day and have noticed worsening of pain, anyone know why taurine might make it worse?
radha

Title: Re: Taurine
Post by TxBasslady on Aug 10^th, 2006, 1:21am

I think it's because you're taking something new...different.

You need time for the taurine to get in your system.

Good luck...I hope you find some pf time.

Jean

Title: Re: Taurine
Post by kcopelin on Aug 10^th, 2006, 1:09pm

Okay! my taurine arrived, as well as the B vits. So, will be trying this as soon as I get a little stable. Sure looks promising!
kathy

Title: Re: Taurine
Post by rickyshot on Aug 10^th, 2006, 1:52pm

HI Kathy We are posting on the same threads here. I also take magnesium along with Taurine and B vits but I still need my other meds sigh........Detoxing for clusterbust I found the Red Bull got rid of one bad migraine and a couple a shadows last week. I was lucky the kip level was low though. Coincidence. I dont know. I am keeping a headache diary again.

Title: Re: Taurine
Post by kcopelin on Aug 10^th, 2006, 2:12pm

Seen alot of people taking magnesium-probably will add that as well. I got the taurine to replace the energy drinks...haven't had a chance to try it yet becasue of the other things going on-last thing I need is any more "energy".
Will defintely be trying clusterbusters of some sort in the near future. Hope it works for you!

PFDAN y'all
kathy

Title: Re: Taurine
Post by Garys_Girl on Aug 13^th, 2006, 7:12pm

If you're going to take magnesium, please include calcium supplements as well. They work together - and without the calcium, magnesium often creates diarrhea.

Also there is a warning about taking Taurine with verapamil:

"CAUTION: Taurine should not be taken if you are currently on a prescription for Verapamil or any other calcium channel blocker. Until more is learned, it is wise to assume that Taurine may increase the action of Verapamil, which could slow the heart excessively, causing irregular heart beats and possibly a heart attack. It is also not clear if Taurine would interact with other medicines like Sodium Valproate or Lithium." - http://www.med-owl.com/clusterheadaches/tiki-index.php?page=Taurine

Good luck - and let us know how it goes!

Laurie

Title: Re: Taurine
Post by vermonster on Oct 7^th, 2006, 12:58pm

on 07/26/06 at 14:20:26, starlight wrote:

Title: Re: Taurine
Post by vermonster on Oct 7^th, 2006, 1:04pm

I stumbled upon the Taurine and after a little research, could find nothing bad about it. I was suffering for SO long, and worried I had become chronic. The O2 was aborting attacks, although only if I was at a level 10 and I was into my 5th month. I started by chugging a red bull (has 1000mg of tauring in it) and was surprised that it stopped my cluster within seconds. I went to GNC and bought a bottle of the stuff (cheap enough, too) and now take 1000 - 3000 mg a day. If I miss a day - I know it by the next morning - I don't get a full blown cluster, but have a heavy head that feels more like a hangover. Nice reminder to get out the bottle of Taurine. Makes sense to me that as I age, I body just isn't making all the stuff it needs to function properly - a decline in my own ability to make natural stuff (for instance, I became lactose intolerant at 35).
I move on with new confidence - should the CH return, I have my sure fire O2 and now the taurine. A lifesaver!

Title: Re: Taurine
Post by Barry_T_Coles on Oct 9^th, 2006, 1:15am

Hi All

This is probably a good time to give a run down on how I have been going with the Taurine trial.
I started the trial Wednesday 19 April 2006 and only noticed a minor improvement in the first week but by the end of the first month I had settled into a period of 3 to 4 days without getting hit and then a couple of days getting hit but only very light and easily aborted with Red Bull or o2.
I had a couple of periods where I had around 10 days & no hits and then a period of 39 days hit free before getting a KIP 6 on Oct 2 06 without warning but it only lasted about 3 minutes and just disappeared as quick as it came & with no abortive, that was 7 days ago now so it will be interesting to see how long this break will be.

As a summary what appears to have happened is that I have gradually built up or reached a balance of the three elements in my system to get me to the point where the hits are not severe or if they are they just don’t last, from memory the longest I have had is about 5 to 7 minutes in duration.

As I only went chronic after my last cycle in Dec 04 I don’t have any history as to what to expect and I guess the only way to prove that the Taurine, Magnesium & Zink regime is working is to drop the trial, BUT I really don’t want to go back to where I was 6 months ago so for me that is not going to happen.

Kind Regards & PF times to all.
Barry

Title: Re: Taurine
Post by sandie99 on Oct 9^th, 2006, 6:53am

It's been interesting to read everyone's experiences about taurine. I'm going to add taurine to my ch kit as soon as it arrives. :)

Sanna

Title: Re: Taurine
Post by lskilly on Oct 9^th, 2006, 8:13pm

Barry

Thanks for the post on Taurine. I think I wll give it a try.

Lskilly

Title: Re: Taurine
Post by Chuffy on Oct 11^th, 2006, 6:09am

Isn't it Taurine in Red Bull that helps abort attacks?

Title: Re: Taurine
Post by LeLimey on Oct 11^th, 2006, 6:32am

Its the combination of caffeine and red bull. Alot of people found drinking strong coffee helped so others tried red bull which works really well. Flo did some research and found that Taurine increases the effect of the caffeine, sort of like a turbo boost so its the combination of the two in red bull that can make it a really good abortive.
Personally I've found you need to chug it as fast as you can (no trying to be ladylike here!) and knock it back as early onas you can. Don't wait for it to build as you do get to the point where it won't work.
Its a useful trick especially when out so I always carry a can in my handbag.
Doubly useful if I want to hit anyone with it ;)

Title: Re: Taurine
Post by Carl_D on Oct 27^th, 2006, 6:59am

on 08/13/06 at 19:12:07, Garys_Girl wrote:

BUMP on this!

Title: Re: Taurine
Post by Tata on Oct 29^th, 2006, 6:27pm

This is interesting, hope the link works. BTW, I tried Redbull at the onset of a HA the other night and it made me sick to my stomach instantly--usually I get neauseous in the middle of an attack. I guess I'll have to stick with mega doses of Pepsi daily.....
http://articles.news.aol.com/news/_a/caffeine-stoked-energy-drinks-worry/20061029170309990001