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 >> cafergot
        
(Message started by: buhrly on Sep 9^th, 2007, 4:26pm)

Title: cafergot
Post by buhrly on Sep 9^th, 2007, 4:26pm

i ask for this the other day at the nero and he wanted me to check with the pharmacy. sure enough they dont have it available anymore. is anyone still finding it or a generic ? thanks

Title: Re: cafergot
Post by Rosybabe on Sep 9^th, 2007, 5:49pm

check this site
http://www.drugstore.com/pharmacy/prices/drugprice.asp?ndc=00781599501&trx=1Z5006

Title: Re: cafergot
Post by buhrly on Sep 9^th, 2007, 8:33pm

thanks

Title: Re: cafergot
Post by Bob_Johnson on Sep 10^th, 2007, 2:50pm

Unless there is some compelling medical reason to use this med, I'd suggest talking to the doc about an alternative. Reports here indicate that it's not very effective for CH, even as some folks like it. The basic problems: a significant portion of the active ingregient is destroyed in the stomach and this route of administration is too slow to challenge the rapid onset of CH.

http://www.plainboard.com/ch/chtherapy.pdf

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)

Title: Re: cafergot
Post by Guiseppi on Sep 15^th, 2007, 6:24pm

Sorry if I'm hijacking a thread....... ;;D but.......

Bob really got me thinking. Cafergot alone never did diddly for me, but when I take it as I start my oxygen, it seems to stop the return headaches I usually get within 20 minutes of stopping the 02. My question:

Since the majority of the active ingredient in cafergot gets whacked by stomach acid, is it just the caffeine that's doing the trick for me, preventing the return ch? [smiley=huh.gif]

Those of you who have success using 02 to abort, but have the headache return within 20 minutes of shutting off the 02. Have any of you had any success using straight caffeine, either coffee, an espresso or an energy drink, to prevent the return headache? I'm going to try just caffeine with my 02, next cycle, and see if it works as well as the cafergot. ;;D Always looking for another golden bullet!

Guiseppi

Title: Re: cafergot
Post by Bob P on Sep 17^th, 2007, 6:58am

Hey Joe,

I know some of the ergot is getting through because my fingers and toes get cold from lack of blood circulation when I take it.

I agree that it usually won't help an immediate attack. Before O2, I'd take cafergot at the start of an attack and the attack would last 30-40 minutes and only end after yacking my guts out.

Jonny used to swear by the cafergot supositories. Too bad they don't make the inahler any more. Amerge is the only triptan that works for me without increasing the frequency of attacks.

Title: Re: cafergot
Post by Bob_Johnson on Sep 17^th, 2007, 8:00am

For years I recommended ergotamine sublingual tabs (because I could not afford the triptans). But, while it was used for years to treat CH, it was not as effective.

The larger dose of ergotamine found in Cafer. compensates for the average amount neutralized by stomach acid and so you, more or less, would get the same dose as using a 2mg sublinqual tablet.

Became a convert to olanzapine when I found that it worked in 20-minutes with 100% consistency.

Re. Oxygen rebound: med literature mentions this, a few folks have commented on this response here. As with so many of the meds we use, overall effectiveness hovers around 70% (with the exception of Imitrex inj.) and so we all have to go through rounds of trials to find something that works for our body.

Title: Re: cafergot
Post by StressFree on Sep 17^th, 2007, 10:18am

They used to make a "Carergot PB". It had pentobarbital in small amount which took the nasea away from the ergot. Also had a bit of belladonna in it. There is still a drug for menopause called Bellergal with same ingredients. Also check ErgocaffPB, BelcompPB, and Bellaspas. It worked great for me when first diagnosed. Along with heavy doses of verapamil, it broke what had been many years of chronic daily cluster attacks. My attacks were like clockwork back then, always at 9am for exactly 1 hour. Now I have 2 month cycles which are multiple daily attacks and sometimes hours long. Fortunately I go many years between cycles allowing for plenty of recovery time. Wishing you PFDAN's, Rich