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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> B-12
        
(Message started by: Versilleus on Aug 22^nd, 2006, 2:41am)

Title: B-12
Post by Versilleus on Aug 22^nd, 2006, 2:41am

I was wondering if there is any connection between a b-12 deficincy and cluster headaches.

The story goes as a couple of months back I had some blood drawn for vitamin and mineral amounts(routine). Everything was/is well within normal range. About a week later I added b12 to my diet mainly just for the heck of it. A month or so afterwards my pain level drastically dropped. Now as a unresponsive chronic cluster sufferer this has blown me away. This is the lowest the pain has been in 5 years. My honest opinion is the vitamin is not related to the current situation however with it being the only really change in my lifestyle as of late and I am not quite sure what to think of all this.

How anyone heard anything similar to this? Maybe it is just my time to be done with them. We can only hope!

Paul

Title: Re: B-12
Post by chopmyheadoff on Aug 22^nd, 2006, 2:46am

im glad your having a bit of relief bro - hope it lasts

i doubt anyoine will be able to answer your question as we are not docs but it might be worth mentioning to your neuro incase it rings any bells . .

thanks for the info r kid, im gonna pick some up on the way to work !!

Title: Re: B-12
Post by Guiseppi on Aug 22^nd, 2006, 10:51am

four years ago my neuro started me on a daily regimen of vitamin B-2....not 12.....and magnesium. I had the longets remission in over 20 years. I had been cycling like clockwork 2 times a year 10 to 12 weeks a cycle. After starting the B-2 and magnesium I went 2 and a half years pain free.

As I'm sure you already know, we never know for sure if it's the meds or the beast morphing again. I've stayed on the regimen and am hoping for another 2 and a half year break! Good luck.

Guiseppi

Title: Re: B-12
Post by Charlotte on Aug 22^nd, 2006, 1:37pm

in the past, a dr advised me to try B4. I also took B complex 150. These helped very much during "low" cycles, but not high.

Also at different times have tried magnesium, fish oil, skull cap, valerian, many blood purifying herbs and MSM, all which help during low cycles, but not high.

And all helped in general, not specifically ch, and were used back when my diagnosis included ch, '95-'99. After that, this beast morphed out of a box.

Charlotte

Title: Re: B-12
Post by jon019 on Aug 29^th, 2006, 11:13pm

Hi Paul,

Am b12 deficent and take self administered shots for it (that was a trip learning how to "do it". Sometimes took me 20 min to get the courage up to stick that large needle into my leg). That said, detect no difference between before and after the shots re ch cycles. Doesn't mean it might not be different for you.

Note: I also drink LOTS of water for various reasons, one of which is posible benefit re ch. Since b vits are water soluble, if you try this you need the b's for replacement.

Regards

Jon

Title: Re: B-12
Post by paulc on Aug 30^th, 2006, 12:09am

My understanding of medicine, which is limited, is that any excess vitamines that we take are eliminated from the body and not used. Years ago I took a vitamin as a supplement and noticed that my urine was a flourescent yellow-almost glowed in the dark! I went to my doc and he explained that the reason for the unusual color was the unused excess amount of the vitamin that the body couldn't use, so it was gotten rid of. He said that if we ate a good diet, vitamin supplements were not necessary; still, for the most part, taking extra vitamins don't hurt the body and who knows, they may do some good. I didn't have CH when my glow-in-the-dark urine episode occurred, but since getting CH (chronic), blood tests done in hospital have shown that I'm getting all of the vitamins that I need from my regular food diet, so I don't take supplements and my docs have never recommended vitamin supplements to help with the CH. If taking them helps anyone, then keep on doing it-couldn't hoit!

Title: Re: B-12
Post by sandie99 on Aug 30^th, 2006, 3:03am

I've been taking a multivitamin tablet (which contains all sorts of vitamin Bs) since 2000, my ch begun in 2001. I did add extra magnesium tablet since I read about its advantages to many clusterheads and it did help in the beginning and my hits were worse when I ran out of it once.

Sanna

Title: Re: B-12
Post by kcopelin on Sep 2^nd, 2006, 11:10am

And, B vitamins are also a major ingredient in the energy drinks some of us slam. In fact, I ordered tablet forms of the top 3 ingrediets (other than carbonated water ::)) so I take a B complex, taurine and carnitine- haven't noticed a difference yet-but it sure is cheaper than the energy drinks-but they do work better...think BBZ right-the caffeine's what does it.
Good luck and keep searching-
PFDAN,
kathy

Title: Re: B-12
Post by Bob_Johnson on Sep 2^nd, 2006, 12:24pm

Just did a search on PubMed and found only one citation and you see how old it is.
----------------------------------
Cephalalgia. 1982 Jun;2(2):111-24.

Foods, and food and drug combinations, responsible for head and neck pain.

Seltzer S.

The literature has been reviewed to uncover the existence of head and neck pain syndromes caused by foods and food and drug combinations. Knowledge of the etiology of such syndromes may help in their treatment. At least twenty-five syndromes have been described. These include those induced by coloring and flavoring agents, alcoholic products, chocolate, coffee and tea, foods containing tyramine, vitamins, minerals, pesticides, and several others. Where possible, the active ingredients and the minimal amounts responsible for the induction of pain have been identified.

Publication Types:
Review

PMID: 6751553