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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> Clusters in Pregnancy
        
(Message started by: sioux-z on Jun 17^th, 2007, 10:39am)

Title: Clusters in Pregnancy
Post by sioux-z on Jun 17^th, 2007, 10:39am

Has anyone ever experienced clusters in pregnancy? I'm 14 weeks pregnant and about 1 week into an episode. I have an appointment with my neuro on Tuesday. I'm hoping to get O2 to relieve the h/a's. Does anyone know if there is a safe treatment to help end the cycle? I know everything I have taken in the past is out of the question during pregnancy.

I did a "google" search and all I'm finding is that most women don't get clusters during pregnancy. I guess I'm just one of the lucky few.

Title: Re: Clusters in Pregnancy
Post by LeLimey on Jun 17^th, 2007, 10:43am

Hi sioux-z
First of all CONGRATULATIONS! Next commiserations, what rotten luck for you.

We have several ch stricken momma's on this site who will be able to help you with all your questions. Some of whom only got hit for the first few weeks of their pregnancy and some who got hit right the way through so you'll be able to hopefully get some hope from that too.

Hang in there, we will do all we can to help and support you I promise and the others will be along - it just gets slow here at weekends sometimes so bear with us!

Best wishes for pain free - well EVERYTHING!

Helen

edited cos I can't spell on weekends or punkcheweight!

Title: Re: Clusters in Pregnancy
Post by lionsound on Jun 17^th, 2007, 9:46pm

HI soux-z,

yea, I read that most women don't get clusters during pregnancy as well and in realityI found it to be a big fat hairg LIE because I got them all through my pregnancy in 2005.

O2 was my best friend so be sure and ask your docs about it, I also found that it was helpful to have my ob/gyn and my Headache doc on the same page for treatment and maybe you could get them to call each other.

I wouldn't take much during pregnancy and nursing, there were a few pain meds I was allowed and I took them maybe twice all together and only in the second half of my pregnancy. ...When the benefit of needing sleep and my health far outweighed the risk to baby. talk to your docs and make a game plan.

My other best friend besides my o2 was my best friend :) and clusterbuddy from this message board. Support is by far and away the best medicine ever.

COngratulations!!!! You can do it!!! keep your eye on that baby prize and remember we are here to help!

Be well and PF!!
-Rori

Title: Re: Clusters in Pregnancy
Post by Bob_Johnson on Jun 18^th, 2007, 9:39am

I checked drug info on medscape.com and Olanzapine is o.k. for limited use in pregnancy.

Headache 2001 Sep;41(:813-6

Olanzapine as an Abortive Agent for Cluster Headache.

Rozen TD.

Department of Neurology, Jefferson Headache Center/Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, Pa.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate olanzapine as a cluster headache abortive agent in an open-label trial. BACKGROUND: Cluster headache is the most painful headache syndrome known. There are very few recognized abortive therapies for cluster headache and fewer for patients who have contraindications to vasoconstrictive drugs. METHODS: Olanzapine was given as an abortive agent to five patients with cluster headache in an open-label trial. The initial olanzapine dose was 5 mg, and the dose was increased to 10 mg if there was no pain relief. The dosage was decreased to 2.5 mg if the 5-mg dose was effective but caused adverse effects. To be included in the study, each patient had to treat at least two attacks with either an effective dose or the highest tolerated dose. RESULTS: Five patients completed the investigation (four men, one woman; four with chronic cluster, one with episodic cluster). Olanzapine reduced cluster pain by at least 80% in four of five patients, and two patients became headache-free after taking the drug. Olanzapine typically alleviated pain within 20 minutes after oral dosing and treatment response was consistent across multiple treated attacks. The only adverse event was sleepiness. CONCLUSIONS: Olanzapine appears to be a good abortive agent for cluster headache. It alleviates pain quickly and has a consistent response across multiple treated attacks. It appears to work in both episodic and chronic cluster headache.

------------------------------------------------------------------------ --------

Olanzapine has a brand name of "Zyprexa" and is a antipsychotic. Don't be put off by this primary usage. Several of the drugs used to treat CH are cross over applications, that is, drugs approved by the FDA for one purpose which are found to be effective with unrelated conditions--BJ.
==============================
OTC meds are not very helpful with cluster, as you know, but may be one of the few options available to you. Some folks have good luck aborting/easing an attack by applying an ice pack to the pain site. Others find very hot water also works; others have used a hair dryer blasting the pain site works! No predicting; just try.
=============================

Re. special needs of women. Both of these in HEADACHE QUARTERLY, Vol X, #2, 1991: "Women and headaches:a comprehensive approach", p. 31-36. "Special considerations in the management of headache in women", p. 37-43. The last one focuses on role of hormones in headache and how medications must be altered.
===============================
J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2006 Jan 11

Cluster headache in women - relation with menstruation, use of oral contraceptives, pregnancy and menopause.

van Vliet JA, Favier I, Helmerhorst FM, Haan J, Ferrari MD.

Medical Centre Haaglanden, Netherlands.

Abstract. In contrast to migraine, little is known about the relationship between cluster headache and menstrual cycle, oral contraceptives, pregnancy and menopause. We performed a population-based questionnaire study among 224 female cluster headache patients, and studied the possible effect of hormonal influences on cluster headache attacks. For control data, a similar but adjusted questionnaire was sent to healthy volunteers and migraine patients. We found that menstruation, use of oral contraceptives, pregnancy and menopause had a much smaller influence on cluster headache attacks than in migraine. Cluster headache can, however, have a large impact on individual women, for example to refrain from having children.

PMID: 16407458 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Title: Re: Clusters in Pregnancy
Post by aubmari on Jun 18^th, 2007, 3:28pm

I had an episode during my 6-7th month of pregnancy as well. I got a referral from my OB/GYN to see a specialist. Make SURE that they are on the same page.

The "specialist" told me that it was okay to take Imetrex with out any Major side effects...... umm well that is reassuring. I cked with my OB and she stated that the Trex would lower the bloodpressure and could definately harm the baby. They also tried to put me on Prozac, something to do with hormone levels.

I eneded up in the hospital after 4 days of no sleep and they put me on morphine to no avail.

I think that your best bet is to try the O2 and hopefully this will help!

Pain Free wishes to you and congrats on the baby! ;)

Aubmari

Title: Re: Clusters in Pregnancy
Post by sioux-z on Jun 18^th, 2007, 3:45pm

Thanks for all the info! I'm going to talk to my Neuro tomorrow about O2. He wasn't open to that option during my last episode but hopefully he will be this time since my options will be limited. I'm going to print out some of the info from this site to take with me to my appointment tomorrow.

Title: Re: Clusters in Pregnancy
Post by Brewcrew on Jun 18^th, 2007, 3:54pm

Sioux - That name I sent you. O2 is likely the FIRST thing he'll try with you as a headache abortive.

I would dump any neuro who didn't know that O2 is the safest and first thing to try.

Title: Re: Clusters in Pregnancy
Post by Barry_T_Coles on Jun 18^th, 2007, 6:55pm

Having never been designed to give birth I can’t help ;) but congrats on the good news.

Cheers
Barry

Title: Re: Clusters in Pregnancy
Post by Rosybabe on Jun 19^th, 2007, 1:14pm

O2 O2 O2!! It is the only safe way to abort CH's during pregnancy.

eat well, healthy and nutritious food, lots of water and rest all you can.

Try to focus on that little baby whenever you are in pain, it will help a lot :).

I did get my cycle in my last three months of pregnancy, no much fun...

hope you get better soon!

Title: Re: Clusters in Pregnancy
Post by sioux-z on Jun 19^th, 2007, 1:53pm

Thanks for your support everyone! I got my script for O2 from my neuro this afternoon. Whew!

It worked for me at an ER visit a few years ago when I had taken my limit of Imitrex for the day so I hope it works for me this time.

Title: Re: Clusters in Pregnancy
Post by jackieg on Jul 6^th, 2007, 8:58am

I was hit during the last month of my pregnancy and did not sleep.. I just cried, rocked, and screamed. Finally, my husband called the doctor and begged for him to induce labor. The doctor was livid that my husband would ask because he did not understand CH and what it was doing to me. We met at the hospital and when he saw me, he understood a little better about what was happening. He agreed to induce, but if I did not go into labor within a few hours, he was sending me home. I went into labor immediately. I had a headache during childbirth...could you imagine anything more painfu..with NO meds for either?
Anyway, the baby came and the cycle stopped immediately. I got pregnant again three months later and went the 9 months headache free.

Title: Re: Clusters in Pregnancy
Post by sioux-z on Jul 6^th, 2007, 9:15am

Wow. Thanks for sharing your experience Jackieg. I can't imagine what that must have been like. Labor and a CH. You must be an incredibly strong woman.

I'm so glad you were headache free in you next pregnancy!

My cycles usually last for 2-3 months with treatment so I was really scared when one started a few weeks ago. But it only lasted a few weeks. I don't know if pregnancy has anything to do with that. It was very strange. I'm terrified of having another one start up again so I refuse to return my O2 tank until I give birth. :)

Thanks again for sharing!

Title: Re: Clusters in Pregnancy
Post by Patrick_A on Jul 6^th, 2007, 4:28pm

ohh man, I am so sorry for you. Good luck!

Patrick A

Title: Re: Clusters in Pregnancy
Post by Melissa on Jul 8^th, 2007, 9:16pm

I am pregnant right now, but luckily I don't go into cycle druing pregnancy (this is my 3rd). I do however go into cycle soon after giving birth. There's nothing like getting hit in the middle of the night AND having to feed a crying baby!

I did want to say congratulations and good luck to you though!

Title: Re: Clusters in Pregnancy
Post by ochreluna13 on Jul 27^th, 2007, 1:49pm

This thread is very related to a question that I had, so I don't really have to ask it. I was gonna try sometime soon with the hubby to conceive, and was wondering what treatments were safe during pregnancy (I'm very new at all this terminology, since I am in the process of being diagnosed with CH)...

Thanks for all the good info!