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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> Its been a year since my last episode... Lunesta?
        
(Message started by: av_boy on Dec 30^th, 2006, 1:53pm)

Title: Its been a year since my last episode... Lunesta?
Post by av_boy on Dec 30^th, 2006, 1:53pm

I am an episodic cluster head. They started about 6 years ago and I would get typically 3 episodes per year lasting usually for about a month.

Typically my neurologist would prescribe Prednisone to kill the episode and Migranol to kill the individual headaches. When my usual Thanksgiving to New Years episode came last year (2005), the Migranal was no longer affective. Towards the end of the cycle I tried O2 and it did help to shorten individual headaches.

That episode along with some other things in my life left me pretty depressed and my physycian prescribed an anti-depresent and sleeping drug (I couldnt sleep)

Ok, the good news is... Its been about a year since my last episode!

I initially took the Lunesta to sleep regularly (until my insurance plan wouldnt pay anymore) but now take it infrequently.

I occasionally start feeling shadows, and I take lunesta at bedtime, and the headaches never take hold.

Based on all of the posts about other medications such as Melatonin I personally think that good solid sleep is what is helping with the headaches.

Now of course the anti-dpressent could have something to do with it too... its called Citalopram.

I wanted to pass this on because I know how many of you guys feel suffering through this, and if there is a chance that Lunesta could work for you, then I think its worth giving it a shot.

I took it pretty much every night for a few months. Then started taking it as needed after that.

Take Care

Title: Re: Its been a year since my last episode... Lunes
Post by MJ on Dec 31^st, 2006, 12:26am

av boy, glad your not getting hit.

Lunesta may be partially responsible for the long break but I would think the Celexa / citalopram, is the more likely aide.

From medicinenet.com

"DRUG CLASS AND MECHANISM: Citalopram is an antidepressant medication that affects neurotransmitters, the chemical transmitters within the brain. Neurotransmitters manufactured and released by nerves attach to adjacent nerves and alter their activities. Thus, neurotransmitters can be thought of as the communication system of the brain. Many experts believe that an imbalance among neurotransmitters is the cause of depression. Citalopram works by preventing the uptake of one neurotransmitter, serotonin, by nerve cells after it has been released. Such uptake is an important mechanism for removing released neurotransmitters and terminating their actions on adjacent nerves. The reduced uptake caused by citalopram results in more free serotonin in the brain to stimulate nerve cells. Citalopram is in the class of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), a class that also contains fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil) and sertraline (Zoloft). Citalopram was approved by the FDA in July 1998."

Possibly the combination of the 2 drugs though not advised to mix are just what some clusterheads needs.

Hope this is your magic.