Clusterheadaches.com Message Board


    
      
        Clusterheadaches.com Message Board
        (http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi)
      

        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> IV Depakote??
        
(Message started by: LindsayLoo on Jun 12^th, 2007, 1:23am)

Title: IV Depakote??
Post by LindsayLoo on Jun 12^th, 2007, 1:23am

Anyone had it??

I did a search online and I can't seem to find what the side effects are or if it really helps?

Anyone know??

Thanks,
Lindz

Title: Re: IV Depakote??
Post by Brewcrew on Jun 12^th, 2007, 11:02am

I've only done the IV DHE-45 treatment. Twice. Both times it was welcome relief. When I was done, they came back with a vengeance within 36 hours. Only lasted a short time (a week or so), then the cycle was broken. Had some great pain-free months after that.

Title: Re: IV Depakote??
Post by UN solved on Jun 12^th, 2007, 3:02pm

IV Depakote is called Depakon. Try looking that up.

It never helped me. I had it a couple of times a long time ago. It was useless but (for me) had no side effects either.

If a cluster patient is in need of an IV medication, there are other meds that may help a great deal more, such as DHE, or steroids such as SoluMedrol, or the combination of both.

Unless a patient previously responded well to Depakote, or the doctor wants to see if Depakote may be helpful, there's not much need for it in the CH community ( IMO ).

Goodluck

UNsolved

Title: Re: IV Depakote??
Post by LeeS on Jun 13^th, 2007, 1:07pm

This study at Thomas Jefferson is now complete but I don't believe the results are available as yet.

An Open Label, Double Blind Study Using Consecutive Intravenous Depacon With Oral Depakote ER for the Treatment of Cluster Headaches.

http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct/show/NCT00203242?order=8

I'm with UNsolved though. In the words of a famous CH practioner "I think there are better things to test" :-/

All the best Lindz

-Lee

Title: Re: IV Depakote??
Post by swimchica623 on Jun 13^th, 2007, 7:08pm

IV depakote has become a pretty standard treatment for me when things get totally out of control, because of the way depakote works. It has to go through your liver, so it can take awhile for the pills to become effective, and a few days to get relief from them. That's what the first neuro that had me do it this way (IVs before switching to pills) told me...he was actually not the best for CH but I was just at Jefferson and he confirmed that this was how the medicine worked best. Some people use depakote all the time and tolerate it well, some people don't get any relief from it at all. That'ss the werid thing about CH, people respond to medicines in such different ways.
I've had this particular plan for depakote because I respond well to it most of the time, so its always worth a go when I get desparate. I am not on it all the time however because the side effects are pretty intolerable...unbelievable weight gain with complete loss of appetite which leads to no energy...to the point that I fall asleep so much I am nearly unfunctioning. I also get really moody, bruise easily, and my hair starts to fall out. So...when I am getting slammed with up to 10 kip 10s a day and the o2 begins to fail and they get long..its MORE than worth it!!! I'll go and get infusions to kick start it in my body and switch to pills, then taper off. I've done that a few times.
We try to limit the use of prednisone with me because, due to severe asthma, I am on it enough throughout the year, and have been on it chronically and sort of need to save prednisone for asthma flares.
There are lots of other things you can try....depakote infusions aren't really fun, they'd put you inpatient the first time..the first time I took it was pretty miserable, I was passing out and puking all night...I can tolerate it well enough to do it in a an infusion clinic now, but I'd try something else. I bet if your insurance isn't covering o2 they woudln't cover this anyway.
Good luck,
Lisa