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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> Indocin?
        
(Message started by: KillerQueen on Mar 20^th, 2007, 9:39am)

Title: Indocin?
Post by KillerQueen on Mar 20^th, 2007, 9:39am

Okay...doc gave me Indocin...From what I've read, it's similar to Aleve, only with really crappy (literally) side effects. Anyone else take it with any good results?

Title: Re: Indocin?
Post by UN solved on Mar 20^th, 2007, 12:05pm

Indocin is nearly 100% effective at treating CPH, which is similar to CH. It is good for clusterheads to try Indocin to rule out CPH. If it doesn't work fairly soon, it's not going to.

Goodluck & hope it helps

UNsolved

Title: Re: Indocin?
Post by E-Double on Mar 20^th, 2007, 3:18pm

Some have had luck with taking indocin SUPPOSITIORY but noit in pill form.

I took it for idiopathic stabbing headache (icepiks) it helped but not for CH.

It was a MAJOR bitch to come off of. Crazy rebound headache!!!!

It will wipe out a few different headache types but not CH

Title: Re: Indocin?
Post by KillerQueen on Mar 20^th, 2007, 3:21pm

It's helped with the shadows a little bit, but, you're right. I noticed on the bottle that one of the side effects says "may cause headaches." Yeah...THAT'S just what I need! :-/

Title: Re: Indocin?
Post by Gator on Mar 20^th, 2007, 9:00pm

EVERYTHING we take has headaches as a side effect. The indocin can be taken up to 300mg, but is rough on the stomach. My doc told me to take an antacid with it, like zantac. The generic version of zantac (ranitidine) worked well. Give it a fair trial. If it's doing anything at all, you might consider talking to your doc about increasing the dosage. It is available as a generic and is fairly cheap. As bad as it may be, it's better than some of the other stuff you could end up taking.

Title: Re: Indocin?
Post by Charlotte on Mar 20^th, 2007, 9:05pm

What dosage and how often, did he prescribe?

I've been taking 75 mg twice a day since 8-06 and it helps with some of the frontal pain but not the temple pain and pressure.

Has your doc also presecribed verapamil?

Charlotte

Title: Re: Indocin?
Post by KillerQueen on Mar 21^st, 2007, 8:34am

She prescribed 50 mg. three times a day. Yes, I am also taking verapamil (one or two 240 mg. tablets in the evening about 2 hours before bedtime). I wasn't sure if the verapamil or the indocin was causing the upset stomach. It's a bad upset stomach, too (I'll try the Zantac). It's given me the worst gas ever (gross, I know, and it hurts) followed by diarrhea to the point that I've almost stopped eating entirely, except for a couple crackers before I take the meds. I'm still tapering off the prednisone, too. I hate taking medication, and this is my first CH cycle ever, and I dunno if I can keep this up much longer. Hopefully the cycle will end soon and I can have a long remission period, or I may lose my friggin' mind. The doc also gave me vicodin (which does nothing for the pain, but I think it's helping me cope a little bit, which I HATE). I only take 1-2 vicodins a day, so I don't take them around the clock or anything, but I don't want to be one of those people who has takes narcotics just to counteract the side effects of the other 3-4 meds I have to take every day just to get a good night's sleep. Sorry, just had to vent a little bit, there. Thanks to all of you for your responses!

Title: Re: Indocin?
Post by KillerQueen on Mar 21^st, 2007, 10:57am

Okay, here I go again (on a rant)...Ten minutes after I typed this message, and thought that I was having an indocin induced headache, I realized that I was getting my first ever daytime CH (only a kip-5). Usually they happen only at night every two hours after I fall asleep (and each one lasted about an hour, so I got an hour's sleep between each one). It came on here at work, which surprised me (maybe the cycle timing is off due to the pred taper and introduction of verapamil and indocin). Anyway, after it hit, I popped a pred and 50 mg. of indocin and it went away in only 20 minutes. The side effects of the indocin suck ass, but the benefits are worth it. It does seem to be working...So, I guess I'll take the gas & diarrhea if it helps the pain...

Title: Re: Indocin?
Post by ClusterChuck on Mar 21^st, 2007, 11:07am

on 03/21/07 at 10:57:44, KillerQueen wrote:

So, I guess I'll take the gas & diarrhea if it helps the pain...

DAYUM!!

If it ain't one end of your body, it's the other!!!

Hang in there .. "This, too, shall end ... "

I am glad you are getting relief!

Chuck

Title: Re: Indocin?
Post by KillerQueen on Mar 21^st, 2007, 11:10am

I think the side effects bother my family more than it bothers me... :-/ Ew...I just grossed MYSELF out...

Thanks, Chuck...

Title: Re: Indocin?
Post by Gator on Mar 21^st, 2007, 11:12am

You should be taking the indocin after a meal. It's also recommended to take the pred with a snack or small meal. If you are taking either or both on an empty stomach, that could be a big part of your stomach problems.

Title: Re: Indocin?
Post by KillerQueen on Mar 21^st, 2007, 11:13am

I even brought a pck of oatmeal to work with me but unfortunately, I didn't get to eat it before the CH hit. I'm eating some now hoping it will absorb some of the drugs in my body. I'm sure you're right...

Title: Re: Indocin?
Post by Gator on Mar 21^st, 2007, 11:33am

on 03/21/07 at 11:13:50, KillerQueen wrote:

I'm sure you're right...

Reading it straight off the label. ;;D

Title: Re: Indocin?
Post by tpitts77 on Mar 22^nd, 2007, 9:40am

You probably shouldn't be taking the prdnisone and Indocin togeather. That will cause stomach ulcers. Your doc should have warned you of that.

Title: Re: Indocin?
Post by E-Double on Mar 22^nd, 2007, 7:09pm

on 03/22/07 at 09:40:22, tpitts77 wrote:

You probably shouldn't be taking the prdnisone and Indocin togeather. That will cause stomach ulcers. Your doc should have warned you of that.

you can mix a corticosteroid with a NSAID.
It sucks but you can however you should be taking something to ease the side effects

Title: Re: Indocin?
Post by KillerQueen on Mar 23^rd, 2007, 8:42am

on 03/22/07 at 09:40:22, tpitts77 wrote:

You probably shouldn't be taking the prdnisone and Indocin togeather. That will cause stomach ulcers. Your doc should have warned you of that.

My GP doesn't know much...can't wait to get in to see the neuro...There is a warning on the Indocin that it could cause bleeding ulcers, though, but I didn't realize the pred might aggravate that...What's weird is, I just read this today, but last night, I had a dream that I went to the doctor and had an ulcer. Creepy...

Title: Re: Indocin?
Post by nani on Mar 23^rd, 2007, 8:47am

on 03/21/07 at 08:34:08, KillerQueen wrote:

I am also taking verapamil (one or two 240 mg. tablets in the evening about 2 hours before bedtime).

One or two? What has the doc prescribed? You should never increase your meds unless you check with the dr. 240 mgs of verap will likely not work very well. 480 mgs should work. pain free wishes, nani

Title: Re: Indocin?
Post by KillerQueen on Mar 23^rd, 2007, 8:52am

She told me to start with 1 and increase to 2 if I didn't see results. I took one per night the first 5 nights and had slight relief so now I've increased to 2 (480mg) per night and it's helped a lot.

Title: Re: Indocin?
Post by envirodefender on Mar 23^rd, 2007, 11:07pm

Indocin is common for a GP to give for CH. They are just throwing things at you to try and find something that works...And it will for awhile, but it IS a rebounder and does have some serious side effects, as you have discovered. If it works to break your cycle, then have at it. I usually keep some on hand, with O2 as an abortive measure. Didn't seem to help in any preventative way. Upside, you can take 2-3 pills at a time 3 times daily, downside, you can/should only use it 2-3 times a week, TOPS!!!! An not long term.

Title: Re: Indocin?
Post by Gator on Mar 27^th, 2007, 12:14am

Indocin (indomethacin) is one of the first drugs a potential cluster headache sufferer in the diagnostic stage should be given. It can be used to determine between Cluster Headache and Paroxysmal Hemicranias. It is usually not effective for CH. It is almost 100% effective against PH. It is used as a preventative, not an abortive, because it is a pill and can take way too long to enter the system. It can be rough on the stomach, but if taken as directed - with food - and with an antacid, it doesn't necessarily cause major problems, either stomach or "rebounds" for everyone who takes it. If it did, it wouldn't be prescribed nearly as much as it is.

It may have had a majorly detrimental effect on you, but that is not the norm. Personally, I took 300mg (the max recommended dose) every day for several weeks early in my treatment for CH. It did not stop my ch, but I never had any stomach or rebound problems, either - even at that high a dose.

Title: Re: Indocin?
Post by KillerQueen on Mar 27^th, 2007, 7:06am

Thanks, Gator. I did quit taking it, as it didn't seem to work for the CH, and only gave me the shits and bad cramping, even with antacids...Back to the drawing board...

Title: Re: Indocin?
Post by JeffB on Mar 27^th, 2007, 1:24pm

Killed my stomach when taking with Pred, and made me blow mud for days. When I start a cycle I just take the pred and verap now.

Title: Re: Indocin?
Post by SophiaK on Mar 27^th, 2007, 1:27pm

I am on my 4th neuro who has diagnosed me with
Paroxysmal Hemicrania. I take indocin 3 x a day 25 mg.
I am not pain free, having 'jabs' of pain on either side of my head. That being said, I am able to function well and haven't had a 'classic' session of CH since early in the month.
Always take indocin with food, a banana will do the trick, too many anti acids will cause loose bowels and that's probably what's causing yours. Indocin usually causes people to have constipation.

Title: Re: Indocin?
Post by JeffB on Mar 27^th, 2007, 1:32pm

Never took an ant acid in my life. Indo killed my stomach each time I was prescibed.

Title: Re: Indocin?
Post by KillerQueen on Mar 27^th, 2007, 1:58pm

Without the antacid, I had horrible cramping for about an hour, followed by diarrhea...with the antacid, I just have the cramping. I guess everyone's body is different. I quit taking the stuff mainly because it made me feel really dizzy and out of it...