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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> Topamax and taper off Verapamil?
        
(Message started by: hm54 on Jul 27^th, 2006, 8:18pm)

Title: Topamax and taper off Verapamil?
Post by hm54 on Jul 27^th, 2006, 8:18pm

I've been chronic for 6 years-taking 720 mg of verapamil with occasional increases that would coincide with what would have been my cycles had I not turned. Most recent increase to 1320 for 2-3 mos and was still getting hit 3 times per day. Predisone taper worked until the end of taper period while increasing the verapamil. Doc prescribed topamax @ 50mg for 3 days, 100 mg for 3 days, then 150 mg. First night on Top HA stopped for 4 days, then another 4 days HA free , then a week HA free then another week HA free. When I thought the Top was working well enough (one HA per week) I began tapering Verap 120mg every 3 days but at 720, headaches came back daily so I started raising Verap again. So,

1)Since Topamax worked so quickly, might I get relief at a lower dose once there's a build up in one's system?

2)Is it likely the headaches are rebounds from tapering too quickly and what is an appropriate taper schedule for verapamil? Doc thinks I'm stuck with it for life. I think it turns one chronic and keeps them chronic.

Thanks for your advice

Bill

Title: Re: Topamax and taper off Verapamil?
Post by Jonny on Jul 28^th, 2006, 8:25pm

One word dude.....Lithium!

Ask your doc for the Lith, Verap cocktail.....its called the chronics cocktail.

I was chronic for 30 years and that cocktail stopped 85% of my HA's from ever breaking through.

Talk to your doc!

Good luck, man!

Title: Re: Topamax and taper off Verapamil?
Post by Chronic on Aug 1^st, 2006, 4:49pm

hm54,

I too am a chronic sufferer. The cocktail mentioned above has done very little for me. I actually got relief from Verapamil for about 12 months (480mgs), but then one day it totally gave out on me. I boosted it up to 720mgs and still nothing. I then added 1000mgs of Lithium and still nothing. 6 headaches a day all kip 10s...of course I never let them go that far, the Imitrex was flowing in my veins. I actually was getting real scared that I may have a heart attack from so many shots.

The MD then took me off Verapamil and moved me to Cartia XT. Another Calcium Channel Blocker (like Verapamil). Again it seemed to work for about two weeks then totally gave out.

Next I moved to Depakote (1500mgs) and stayed on the Cartia and got rid of the Lithium. Again, two weeks of reducing headaches then total failure.

Today I start Topamax. I have tried all of these before in my 18 years of CHs, but I was Episodic for 14, and thought I'd give them another chance. We'll see.

If Topamax fails, my MD is going to have me admitted to the hospital for 5 days for observation during IV steroids, DHE and Oxygen therapies.

It doesn't get much worse than this...

Anyway, try the Topamax, it may work for you. I hope it does for me.

Oh, and prednisone is your friend (at least temporarily). Use it while the other drugs start to kick in. Most therapies take 3-5 days to start working. Prednisone starts on day 1 (at least for me).

Title: Re: Topamax suggestion.
Post by Karla on Aug 1^st, 2006, 5:50pm

At the OUCH convention in Milwaukee it was mentioned by one of the special guest speakers that topamax seems to work best and have the most success when it is tappered up and down very very slowely. do 25mg incriments every 2-3 weeks. 150-200mg seems to be the theraputic range. I know the specialist I saw at the University of Wisconsin Madison headache/pain clinic suggested I retry it at a slow taper and up to 600mg. I still had no luck with it. However you may.