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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> amino acids and other alternative treatments
        
(Message started by: teakellie on Sep 14^th, 2006, 11:04pm)

Title: amino acids and other alternative treatments
Post by teakellie on Sep 14^th, 2006, 11:04pm

I just read yesterday that a certain combination of amino acid supplements can be beneficial towards relief for cluster headaches. (there is a disclaimer NOT to take them if you are taking an MAO inhibitor drug or antidepressant)

Here is the combination:
L-Tyrosine
Take as directed (I'm taking 500mg once a day when I wake up)
L-Glutamine 500mg
Twice a day
And also Quercetin
500mg twice a day

It's too early to tell, but I was in the midst of a typical episode (up to 9 hits a day) and now I've had two pain free days in a row. (very unusual for me)

I also have been taking magnesium on a regular basis and just added a B-vitamin complex. At night I take melatonin and tang kuei before bed.

I use Imitrex when warranted, but I lean more towards alternative methods these past 20 years of dealing with my clusters. (I'm new here and have a short intro on the newbie page) I also use ice packs frequently and have just started with O2, which has been very effective in aborting a CH.

I'm wondering if anyone else has tried this combination? I also read about using DL-phenylalanine (another amino acid) at 750mg a day, but I couldn't find it at that dose. Ginko biloba was mentioned. And capsicum. (which I see has been mentioned here before as cayenne pepper) I haven't tried any of these yet.

Over the years I have also tried:
acupuncture (effective on other issues, but not my CH)
chiropractic (ditto)
cranial sacral (I felt great after the treatments, but they didn't touch the CH)
meditation (this actually works for me sometimes)

~Kellie in California
(20 years episodic)

Title: Re: amino acids and other alternative treatments
Post by Karla on Sep 15^th, 2006, 4:08am

Over the years I have also tried:
acupuncture, chiropractic cranial sacral treatments, and meditation, and biofeedback.

I have found the best line of defense is verapamil up to 960mg/day and lithium 900mg sometimes these two meds work alone. Otherwise, must use them together as a combo approach. Oxygen is another must have see link to left of screen <=== on "oxygen info" That should answer all your questions and help get you set up.

predisone is good to stop the cycle if you are eposodic. Doesn't do much for chronics.

try indomethacin(indocin) is used to rule out the cph type ha.

zyprexa, and other antiseizure, and anticonvulsants(neurontin, dilantin, tegretol, etc) used with some good results.

Good luck in findng someting that works soon.

Title: Re: amino acids and other alternative treatments
Post by starlight on Sep 18^th, 2006, 11:02pm

Hey Teakellie!

Did you bychance read that in the Nutritional Healing book? That's a great book!
I've taken all those amino acids, the phenylalanine and the ginko biloba all together. Here's what happened--I tried 'em about 8 years ago towards end of cycle, got a few pain free nights and then flew to Seattle and stopped taking them--don't ask me why I think I forgot to bring em or something and just relied on imitrex. This cycle I went down to health food store and took them at a painful peak in my cycle and didn't have much luck unfortunatley. But that was at a point when not a whole lot was helping. Good luck to you--I remember getting a couple pain free nights out of them and then like I said I flaked and left em at home. If you get some good luck be sure to tell folks about it!!!! Good luck!!! I really hope they work for you!!!! Star