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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> How long till Verapamil & prednisone work!!
        
(Message started by: sekaufm on Aug 24^th, 2006, 7:48pm)

Title: How long till Verapamil & prednisone work!!
Post by sekaufm on Aug 24^th, 2006, 7:48pm

Hey guys,
So I went to the doctor last Thursday and he put me on Prednisone (6tablets a aday and decreaseing by1 every other day) and take the verapamil with it (120mg).

Well I had a minor ch on Friday nothing on Sat or Sun. Well Monday the deamon is back. As well as Tues, Wed, and Today. Today was horrible i had 3 and the last one lasted on and off for 3 hours!!

i called the doctor and he wants me to see him on Monday. i asked why couldn't we do whatever it is were gonna do on Monday do today! He said he wants to give the meds a chance to work. Well it has been a week today and last week he told me usually within 2 days people notice a difference!

I know some of you take a higher dose of Verapamil what do you think if I increase it on my own tomorrow? Those of you that have done both of these med's how long did it take for it to finally work because I feel a week is plenty of time for these medications to run through your system.

thanks, Sylvia

Title: Re: How long till Verapamil & prednisone work!
Post by brewcrew on Aug 24^th, 2006, 8:26pm

Prednisone should work within 24 hours. For some it's a lot faster.

I've been on 240mg 2x/day of verapamil for, like, as long as I can remember. When I recently came home from the hospital (in for the DHE-45 IV treatment), my doc wanted to up my dose of verapamil, gradually up to 960mg/day. Once I hit 720mg/day, I started having heart palpatations and my legs got really weak.

It usually takes 7-10 days to start working.

My advice would be NOT to increase your dosage without consulting your doctor.

Title: Re: How long till Verapamil & prednisone work!
Post by prcole18 on Aug 24^th, 2006, 8:51pm

What brewcrew said.

Pred should work pretty quick if you are taking enough of it. I take 12X5mg to start with then taper down after 10 days. I'll notice a difference within hours of taking it.

Verap can take up to 4-6 weeks to kick in but with most people should be sooner. with me it took over a couple of weeks. im now on 480mg a day & still getting hit at night.

My gp said todady that he will not up the Verap anymore without my Neuro's sayso whom I see in a couple of weeks.

Title: Re: How long till Verapamil & prednisone work!
Post by chewy on Aug 24^th, 2006, 9:07pm

Quote:

I know some of you take a higher dose of Verapamil what do you think if I increase it on my own tomorrow?

I think that would be very unwise for a couple of reasons.

1. The Doc is probably starting you low to determine how you tolerate the verap. It can have some nasty side effects with some people.

2. Your going to run out before you are supposed to and your Doc is going to ask why? Docs have little tolerance for people who self medicate against orders.

Verapamil can take around 7-10 days to become effective and pred. about 24 hours.

If you start experiancing CH attacks when you get to the lower doses of pred then call your Doc to up the verapamil. He's probably expecting it.

Title: Re: How long till Verapamil & prednisone work!
Post by burnt-toast on Aug 24^th, 2006, 9:50pm

You are correct, many of us take much higher levels of Verapamil but Chewy's giving you the best possible advise.

For Verapamil to be most effective consistent blood serum levels need to reached.

It's not unusual to go thorough a process of increasing dosages until you hit levels that are most effective but work thorough this with your doctor.

I've had simular issues as you describe while taking Prednisone. Seems to knock it down for a few days only to come back with a vengence for a few days.

The good news - this has preceed improvement in the number/frequency of attacks. The bad news - it has also preceeded a continuation or worsening of attacks. Cross your fingers and let us know how things turn out.

Best wishes,

Tom