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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> Caffeine/taurine alternatives?
        
(Message started by: downstairs on Jan 20^th, 2007, 12:12pm)

Title: Caffeine/taurine alternatives?
Post by downstairs on Jan 20^th, 2007, 12:12pm

Newbie here (new to the board and to CH).

The Red Bull and ice pack routine seems to work pretty well for me as a non-drug approach (when I'm out of Maxalt, don't have O2 yet.)

However, I just hate Red Bull. Really all energy drinks.

Is there some better way to get taurine and caffeine?

I'd prefer some pill/non-drink way for both... but I suppose if I could get the taurine and use coffee (which I like) that would be great.

I'm sticking with the Red Bull for now, but it's pretty darn disgusting for me :)

Title: Re: Caffeine/taurine alternatives?
Post by downstairs on Jan 20^th, 2007, 12:14pm

Oh... and, of course, this alternative solution would need to be as effective (or more).

(I'm assuming it is the caffeine and taurine that makes Red Bull work for CH)

Title: Re: Caffeine/taurine alternatives?
Post by SophiaK on Jan 20^th, 2007, 12:19pm

You can buy Taurine pills in the health food stores. You can also order them on line if you don't have a store near you. I purchased them in GNC

Title: Re: Caffeine/taurine alternatives?
Post by downstairs on Jan 20^th, 2007, 12:22pm

on 01/20/07 at 12:19:58, SophiaK wrote:

You can buy Taurine pills in the health food stores. You can also order them on line if you don't have a store near you. I purchased them in GNC

how much should I take during an attack? I assume I'd also need to drink something with caffeine?

Title: Re: Caffeine/taurine alternatives?
Post by SophiaK on Jan 20^th, 2007, 12:34pm

Scroll down on the main message page and read "information on Taurine," dated th 17th I believe, and good luck.

Title: Re: Caffeine/taurine alternatives?
Post by MJ on Jan 20^th, 2007, 10:17pm

Try coffee. I heard it has caffeine.

Taurine is just an effect multiplier and I'm not sure it has immediate results on CH. talk to Barry down under takes weeks or months to gain apparent real lasting benefits from taurine.

I might be wrong but people are grasping at straws when they say ok I will take a taurine that will knock out a CH. The same supplement effects may be gained by chewing on gum.

Its the stimulant that helps in the short term. Have 2 cups of coffee with a cup of sugar and an ice pack.

Title: Re: Caffeine/taurine alternatives?
Post by froggy on Jan 20^th, 2007, 10:54pm

I feel like I'm a walking add for Monster Khaos 8).

My husband switched over from Red Bull to Monster Khaos because of taste - much better. They have a bunch of different flavors too.

I know you're looking for the pill form to do the same but for a couple of bucks go to your local CVS or Walmart and try it. At least this way you know you're getting the benificial ingredients to knock out the attack.

Best of luck

Title: Re: Caffeine/taurine alternatives?
Post by Ob1kanobee on Jan 20^th, 2007, 11:09pm

To Downstairs, have you tried Kudzu yet? I have taken it with much success since learning about it on this forum. I normally have one cycle every year that starts in mid to lat December and lasts for about six weeks.

Since taking Kudzu, after one week I would say, my cluster headaches have been few and far between. When I do get one, it is never over a K2. I have also increased my intake of water with juice added to it for flavor.

The links for Kudzu and water are on the left of the main page or home page. Hope this helps.

Title: Re: Caffeine/taurine alternatives?
Post by floridian on Jan 21^st, 2007, 12:26am

on 01/20/07 at 22:17:32, MJ wrote:

Taurine is just an effect multiplier and I'm not sure it has immediate results on CH.

Not sure about it merely being a multiplier - it has been shown to be a calcium channel blocker (like verapamil) and it also inhibits some neurotransmitters associated with pain transmission in CH (esp. glutamate/NMDA). It also protects nerve cells from adverse effects of ammonia and nitrate toxicity.

While there are no good studies on taurine and CH, I think the anecdotal evidence is pretty strong.

Quote:

Med Hypotheses. 1996 Dec;47(6):461-6. Links
Magnesium taurate and fish oil for prevention of migraine.

* McCarty MF.

Nutrition 21, San Diego, CA 92109, USA.

Although the pathogenesis of migraine is still poorly understood, various clinical investigations, as well as consideration of the characteristic activities of the wide range of drugs known to reduce migraine incidence, suggest that such phenomena as neuronal hyperexcitation, cortical spreading depression, vasospasm, platelet activation and sympathetic hyperactivity often play a part in this syndrome. Increased tissue levels of taurine, as well as increased extracellular magnesium, could be expected to dampen neuronal hyperexcitation, counteract vasospasm, increase tolerance to focal hypoxia and stabilize platelets; taurine may also lessen sympathetic outflow. Thus it is reasonable to speculate that supplemental magnesium taurate will have preventive value in the treatment of migraine. Fish oil, owing to its platelet-stabilizing and antivasospastic actions, may also be useful in this regard, as suggested by a few clinical reports. Although many drugs have value for migraine prophylaxis, the two nutritional measures suggested here may have particular merit owing to the versatility of their actions, their safety and lack of side-effects and their long-term favorable impact on vascular health.

PMID: 8961243 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

Quote:

Headache. 1993 Jun;33(6):324-7. Links
Taurine levels in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid in migraine patients.

* Martinez F,
* Castillo J,
* Leira R,
* Prieto JM,
* Lema M,
* Noya M.

Department of Neurology, Hospital General de Galicia, Clinico Universitario, Santiago de Compostela, Spain.

Taurine is the amino acid with the highest concentration in the human body. Its physiologic functions are not yet well understood. As a neurotransmitter or neuromodulator it may display inhibitory functions. We have measured taurine levels in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid of migraine patients during attacks, comparing them with controls. Patients with migraine had significantly higher concentrations than controls. No sex or age influence over the amino acid levels were observed. Plasma taurine levels in patients with classic migraine correlated negatively with severity of headache. Central taurine liberation during migraine crisis may be due to spontaneous depolarization or a defensive reaction in the context of cerebral homeostatic processes.

PMID: 8349475 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

At least in migraine, taurine is released within the body when a headache occurs, and the higher the taurine, the less severe the headache (negatively correlated).

Title: Re: Caffeine/taurine alternatives?
Post by kcopelin on Jan 21^st, 2007, 10:02am

I also got the taurine tablets (on-line Puritans Pride buy one get 2 free) they are 1000mg tablets, which is the taurine dosage in one serving of Red Bull, Monster, Rock Star. Then i chased it with double strength coffee. It did not have the same results as my favorite-Rock Star Zero Carb. Could be the coldness of the drink, could be the synergesic effect of all the ingredients...I don't know-just know it didn't work as well as energy drinks.
Ever forward....
PFDAN y'all
kathy

Title: Re: Caffeine/taurine alternatives?
Post by downstairs on Jan 21^st, 2007, 11:04am

on 01/20/07 at 23:09:36, Ob1kanobee wrote:

The links for Kudzu and water are on the left of the main page or home page. Hope this helps.

I'm confused? I don't see any links?

Can someone post a link- or just tell me what to buy and where (and the quantity to take and when, etc.)

Title: Re: Caffeine/taurine alternatives?
Post by eddie on Jan 21^st, 2007, 11:12am

here is a thread started about kudzu and alot of links

http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi?board=meds;action=display;num=1110584362;start=0#0

this may help you some