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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> Warfarin and Cluster
        
(Message started by: JimLaff on Sep 5^th, 2006, 11:56am)

Title: Warfarin and Cluster
Post by JimLaff on Sep 5^th, 2006, 11:56am

When I was at the convention in Wisconsin this year I had the distinct pleasure of meeting Svenn. We discussed the fact that trials are now being conducted to see what the effects of Warfarin (Coumadin) are on cluster headache. Warfarin is a blood thinning medication used primarly for heart conditions. I am on it due to a blood clot in the arm. Svenn asked me to update my progress. So far I have been headache free. This is the time that I usually get hit but I have been totally pain free. Now, Lets not start thinking that this is the "new thing". There could be a lot of reasons that I am pain free at the present time. I am going to be on the Warfarin until October 16th and I am keeping detailed notes of diet, Warfarin dosage, blood levels, etc. I will update as I go. So far so good

Title: Re: Warfarin and Cluster
Post by Linda_Howell on Sep 5^th, 2006, 12:04pm

Jim that is great news and you deserve it because of everything else you've gone through.

May good Karma continue to surround you.

and keep us informed hon. Linda

Title: Re: Warfarin and Cluster
Post by Bob_Johnson on Sep 5^th, 2006, 1:20pm

Not an approach which is getting much attention but worth attention. Could only find two articles covering the last 5-7 years.
---------------------
J Headache Pain. 2005 Oct;6(5):417-9. Epub 2005 Aug 1.

Warfarin as a therapeutic option in the control of chronic cluster headache: a report of three cases.

Kowacs PA, Piovesan EJ, de Campos RW, Lange MC, Zetola VF, Werneck LC.

Headache Section, Neurology Division, Internal Medicine Department, Hospital de Clinicas, Universidade Federal do Parana, Rua General Carneiro 181/1236, 80060-900 Curitiba, Brazil. cefaleia@hc.ufpr.br

Chronic cluster headache remains refractory to medical therapy in at least 30% of those who suffer from this condition. The lack of alternative medical therapies that are as effective as, or more effective than, lithium carbonate makes new therapies necessary for this highly disabling condition. Based on a previous report, we gave oral anticoagulants to three patients with chronic cluster headache. Two of them remained cluster headache-free while taking warfarin. In the third patient, the use of warfarin for three weeks initially increased the frequency and intensity of cluster headache attacks but subsequently induced a prolonged remission. In spite of the paucity of data available, oral anticoagulation appears to be a promising therapy for chronic cluster headache.

Publication Types:
Case Reports

PMID: 16362716

Title: Re: Warfarin and Cluster
Post by The mad viking on Sep 5^th, 2006, 1:31pm

This is rather interresting to know

This is NOT a new thing or cure or anything like that.
Warfarin"Marevan"is used to/as bloodthinner for some of us with a bad heartcondition etcetcetc

Some time ago i was reading an article that said that the further away from the equatorial line we get "both sides"the more ch it seems to be."That horrible pounding feeling before all hell brake loose"

Thats why i do rise the question if our blood up here is a bit to thick?

Since some clusterheads "15-18"over here have positive effect of warfarin and his cluster,i do think its worth look in to by those that has the brain for it.

Any thought on this matter?

Svenn

Title: Re: Warfarin and Cluster
Post by Linda_Howell on Sep 5^th, 2006, 1:38pm

I do not mean to make light of a serious subject here,

Quote:

Thats why i do rise the question if our blood up here is a bit to thick?

But Svenn you are just begging for me or Cathi to say something here. But I won't. [smiley=smartass.gif]

Title: Re: Warfarin and Cluster
Post by georgej on Sep 5^th, 2006, 1:57pm

My youngest brother and I are both positive as heterozygous for Factor V Leiden--a genetic variant that causes the blood to clot more quickly than normal. It's a good/bad thing--we seldom bruise, and any bleeding from wounds stops very quickly, but clots can form more easily in our circulatory systems.

Dave takes Warfarin (Coumadin) because he's had a clot lodged in his spine. I don't, and have never had a blood clot, but I've been advised to take two aspirin each day instead of the usual 80 mg mini-aspirin that most people take. So far, I'm tolerating it well.

Dave's not a clusterhead, but I am.

Factor V Leiden is present in 5 percent of the population. Does anyone else know whether they're positive? Perhaps there's some sort of relationship.

Just speculating.

Best,

George

Title: Re: Warfarin and Cluster
Post by SophiaK on Sep 5^th, 2006, 5:21pm

I take both Verapamil and Warfarin, I have hits daily since December. I just wish what works for others would work for me. Very disheartening. I'm being treated for a-fib. Nothing we've tried so far has helped me with CH.

Title: Re: Warfarin and Cluster
Post by paul2006 on Sep 6^th, 2006, 8:36pm

I've just spent a week in hospital due to a blood clot in my lung and was given injections of something [can't remember what it was :(] in my stomach. It was to thin my blood and break up the clot.

I had to use Imigran [imitrex] shots on the first 2 days in hospital, but after the blood thinning injections I found that my [secret] stash of caffien/taurine drinks were enough to keep the HA's at bay - just!!

Mentioned this to the doc & the pharmacist who [very kindly] came to see if I needed more Imigran shots and she was very interested in my reporting that the anti-coagulants may have been helping the CH. I still took my daily 960mg of verapamil.

Perhaps its the fact that if the blood is thinned, the blood vessels in the head don't swell??? I don't really know - just know that I didn't need the imigran after a couple of shots of the other stuff... hmmm... I wonder [smiley=huh.gif]

Title: Re: Warfarin and Cluster
Post by georgej on Sep 7^th, 2006, 12:16am

on 09/06/06 at 20:36:25, paul2006 wrote:

I've just spent a week in hospital due to a blood clot in my lung and was given injections of something [can't remember what it was :(] in my stomach. It was to thin my blood and break up the clot.

Did they test you for Factor V Leiden after your clot occured, Paul? Reason I ask is that that's when my youngest brother was tested. My middle brother and I were subsequently advised that we should get tested as well. Good to know these things, as Factor V Leiden can affect how one reacts to blood thinners. It's not a particularly rare condition.

Here in the states, the test costs about a hundred bucks. I see that you fly the Red Dragon, though, and I'm not sure what the medical cost of the test, if any, would be across the pond.

Best,

George