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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> Verapamil, how long before it kicks in?
        
(Message started by: prcole18 on Aug 4^th, 2006, 5:29pm)

Title: Verapamil, how long before it kicks in?
Post by prcole18 on Aug 4^th, 2006, 5:29pm

Hi agian peolpe :)

started the Verapamil @ 2X120mg on the 27th July.

Then the doctor upped it to 2X240mg on the 2nd Aug.

Also am doing a pred taper.

On the 2nd Aug I acctually went all night without a headache :D

3rd Aug had 1 in the night

Then last night had 3!

Prior to this as some of you know I was going through hell with up to 6 a day, so I thought on the 2nd Aug when I didn't have one hey great end of cycle maybe........ yeah right!

So am I going backwards [smiley=huh.gif]

So how long before the verap kicks in & hopefully works as I really want off this Pred?? Saying that even on the pred im still getting them just not as many.

Basically the day ones have gone (unless I bloody fall asleep) but still getting the night time ones, but as I say I went a night without one, but they obviously decided they ain't finished with me yet.

Does this sort of thing happen with anyone else? ie still get the night ones no matter how much med you are on??

Sorry if I'm rambling, its just i'm trying to work this bloody cycle out & its doing my brain in (sorry for the pun!)

Paul (a very confused Paul at that) >:(

Title: Re: Verapamil, how long before it kicks in?
Post by maffumatt on Aug 4^th, 2006, 5:33pm

differs from person to person, but 2 weeks is the norm. This is why Prednistone is normaly given at the same time. It is to stop the hits long enough for the verap to kick in.
Matt

Title: Re: Verapamil, how long before it kicks in?
Post by prcole18 on Aug 4^th, 2006, 5:36pm

Yeah I was hoping by doing the Verap taper while waiting for the Pred to kick in, I would virtually go headache free, shouldv'e known better :(

Title: Re: Verapamil, how long before it kicks in?
Post by Bob_Johnson on Aug 5^th, 2006, 12:37pm

As much as time is the question of effective dose. You may have to increase it another time or two. Not unusual to find doses in the 700+ area are needed.

Title: Re: Verapamil, how long before it kicks in?
Post by paul2006 on Aug 10^th, 2006, 8:25pm

Like I said, Paul, I'm on 960mg a day. Still get hit but much less and Imigran for the other times.

Doc probably won't prescribe more than 480mg. I was sent to a Neurologist who can prescribe whatever they see fit.

The Verap took a few weeks to kick in with me and 480mg wasn't 'enough'.

Anyway, I'm just here coz I was hit earlier! Nothing's perfect ;)

;)

Title: Re: Verapamil, how long before it kicks in?
Post by kcopelin on Aug 10^th, 2006, 9:36pm

Paul, it can take a couple of weeks for the verap to work-and people sometimes have to extend the pred taper til they get the verap right-above post was right on-most docs freak out at the levels of verap some of need.
Have you tried melatonin and benadryl for night time hits? It seriously has worked for me-for the most part. Better than anything ever has in 25 years.
hoping you have PFDAN
kathy

Title: Re: Verapamil, how long before it kicks in?
Post by paul2006 on Aug 11^th, 2006, 11:18pm

Hi again Paul...

Apparently, verapamil 'officially' takes 4 - 6 weeks to properly kick in... there's a brief description here:

http://www.headaches.org/consumer/topicsheets/verapamil.html

It took me a few weeks, which may have been four or so, just to build up to 480mg...

Patience is the key :)

Pain is, after all, a 'relative' experience. Would anyone like to try mine? 8)

Title: Re: Verapamil, how long before it kicks in?
Post by prcole18 on Aug 12^th, 2006, 7:17am

Cheers for the replies again people, fingers crossed for the Verap kicking in shortly then!

Title: Re: Verapamil, how long before it kicks in?
Post by LeLimey on Aug 12^th, 2006, 7:39am

How was your holiday Paul? How did you get on?

Title: Re: Verapamil, how long before it kicks in?
Post by chopmyheadoff on Aug 16^th, 2006, 4:44am

verap took only a few days to kick in for me !!

just goes to show we are all different.
its a wierd old beast innit ??!!

best wishes

Title: Re: Verapamil, how long before it kicks in?
Post by prcole18 on Aug 16^th, 2006, 4:52am

on 08/16/06 at 04:44:29, chopmyheadoff wrote:

verap took only a few days to kick in for me !!

just goes to show we are all different.
its a wierd old beast innit ??!!

best wishes

Im still bloody waiting >:(