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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> New diagnosis/ medication
        
(Message started by: Coz on Jun 6^th, 2007, 4:58pm)

Title: New diagnosis/ medication
Post by Coz on Jun 6^th, 2007, 4:58pm

Hi everyone on this forum. I live in the UK and was recently diagnosed by the wonderful staff at Kings college Hospital in London as a clusterhead. They have given me every test going to make sure that my Horners' Syndrome isn'r caused by anything really nasty and it's alsmost a relief to know that my headaches are just(I know they are bad) cluster headaches. I have been prescribed Indomethacin for when I have a bad attack but as they episode is fading, after3 months, I haven't had chance to test there effecacy. Basically has anyone had these and do they work or should I press for other pain relief. Thanks for a great site.

Andy

Title: Re: New diagnosis/ medication
Post by Guiseppi on Jun 6^th, 2007, 5:56pm

I am not familiar with that medication. I would strongly encourage you to read up on the oxygen link on the left, and look into getting it prescribed. It is my first line defense when i go on cycle. It must be started at the first hint of a headache, at a high flow rate using a non re breather mask. For me it will abort a headache in 6-8 minutes with none of the nasty side effects so many of the other meds have!

Happy to hear the cycle is winding down. Keep your guard up, he has a nasty habit of letting you get relaxed and confident then sneaking up and slamming you!!

Welcome to the board, it'll come to be your second home!!!

Guiseppi

Title: Re: New diagnosis/ medication
Post by E-Double on Jun 6^th, 2007, 8:20pm

Indomethacin will not do anything for your attacks.

Please check out OUCH UK as they will guide you to proper treatment.

In the UK it is known that Imigran and Oxygen are first line abortive medications and verapamil is a first line preventative.

Be armed for your next round and become your best advocate

E

Title: Re: New diagnosis/ medication
Post by LindsayLoo on Jun 6^th, 2007, 8:30pm

on 06/06/07 at 16:58:33, Coz wrote:

I have been prescribed Indomethacin

Andy, Hi!

I am currently on Indocin (aka indomethacin), a NSAID, 25mg 3x's a day as needed. Personally, I am VERY new to CH's (only had em everyday and building since May14th) but I don't think the Indocin does a damn thing. it should be built up in my system since it is not a new drug for me, it's just new for the CH's. I was originally put on it about 6 months ago for osteoarthritis in my wrist and it didn't do a damn thing for that either. Everyone is different though, hopefully they work for you.

Indomethacin is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that reduces fever, pain and inflammation. It is similar to ibuprofen (Motrin) and naproxen (Naprosyn, Aleve).

Title: Re: New diagnosis/ medication
Post by E-Double on Jun 6^th, 2007, 10:26pm

It is also a medication that is very helpful with a few other HA types.

One Cluster like headache, Paroxysmal Hemicrania is extremely responsive to Indocin(indomethacin)

The one thing that you do have to watch out for is the dreaded "Rebound" Headache/ Analgesic Rebound/ Medicinal Overuse Headache.

This is a bitch!!!!!!!!! To be honest, it is bonecrushing and very severe but again it is quite different to CH.

Good luck and I hope you find something that works!

E

Title: Re: New diagnosis/ medication
Post by Bob_Johnson on Jun 7^th, 2007, 10:52am

Here is a link to read and print and take to your doctor. It describes preventive, transitional, abortive and surgical treatments for CH. Written by one of the better headache docs in the U.S. (2002)

http://www.brightok.net/~mnjday/chtherapy.pdf

Title: Re: New diagnosis/ medication
Post by Coz on Jun 8^th, 2007, 12:32pm

Thanks to everyone who had written so far. It doesn't look too good on the effectiveness of Indomethacin but luckily so far I haven't had to test it yet (touch wood). I haven't had a headache for a couple of weeks now but I still have the miosis (is that how it's spelt?) in my eye. Will that go? And if it does will that mean my episode has passed and I can stop being wary everytime I get a twinge of pain in my head? Oh and does anyone in the Uk know how to get oxygen prescribed. I know that when I am having a bad headache I feel like gulping air as much as I can and often go outside and breath deeply so I imagine oxygen might work for me.

Title: Re: New diagnosis/ medication
Post by UN solved on Jun 8^th, 2007, 2:20pm

I was told by a doctor that if Indomethacin doesn't work rather quickly ( he told me 6 days ) then it's not going to help. It's no good for CH.

I took this daily as a preventative, not as an abortive. It didn't help me at all ... but worth the try. I had no side effects from using it.

Goodluck

UNsolved

Title: Re: New diagnosis/ medication
Post by GrandPotentate on Jun 8^th, 2007, 7:09pm

I had indomethacin prescribed by a neuro who thought I had migraines. It didn't do me any good, but maybe it works for some folks.

Brisk walking helps - seems to knock off the peak. Fortunately, my cycle comes with the first warm days of spring. I've gotten to see a lot of my neighborhood and lost a few pounds (or a fraction of a stone).

O2 was a delight for me - seems to reduce both intnsity and duration.