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 >> Nurofen... it seems to work this way
        
(Message started by: Buzz on Nov 30^th, 2007, 1:59pm)

Title: Nurofen... it seems to work this way
Post by Buzz on Nov 30^th, 2007, 1:59pm

I have been getting a severe hiding from my headaches for the last few weeks until yesterday, when I decided that I would try something I used to do before I read that it was useless.

I take 2 x 342Mg "Migraine Strength" Nurofen (Ibuprofen 342Mg) caplets every 4 hours regardless of whether I have a headache or not. So far, I've had just shadows and can feel all sorts of slight sensations in my head and face - but nothing more than perhaps a Kip 2/3...

I am still on Verapamil (720Mg) and I'm sure that's helping but not for the first time, I'm convinced that the Nurofen (with the help of Verapamil????) is actually keeping the headaches at bay...

On the downside, it doesn't take long before I am a cauldron of heartburn with the Nurofen... but hell, I can handle heartburn!

From having my possibly worst ever headache (it redefined my conception of a Kip 10) to nothing more than a few rumblings in 24 hours... makes you think...

Has anyone had any similar experience???

...and now, by mentioning that I have been P/F for so long, I feel like I may have tempted fate...

Has anyone had any similar experience???

Title: Re: Nurofen... it seems to work this way
Post by brewcrew on Nov 30^th, 2007, 2:55pm

In our house we call ibuprofen "light-fighter candy." Works great for sore muscles, regular vascular headaches, etc. If you're jacked up on 720mg of verapamil, I have doubts about what effect the ibuprofen is really having. I'd almost look into combining the verapamil with lithium as a 1-2 punch and save your stomach lining.

Title: Re: Nurofen... it seems to work this way
Post by Gator on Nov 30^th, 2007, 11:18pm

Ibuprofen in high doses/over a long period of time can be rough on your stomach, not to mention the hellacious medication overuse headache (aka rebound headache) you are setting yourself up for.

I agree with Brew. Talk to your doc about adding something like lithium. Many clusterheads require polypharmacy to keep the beast at bay. Verap/lithium is the combo of choice for a lot of people.

Title: Re: Nurofen... it seems to work this way
Post by Buzz on Dec 1^st, 2007, 3:18am

Thanks for the comments. I will discuss Lithiium with my doc... what sort of dosage???

Title: Re: Nurofen... it seems to work this way
Post by brewcrew on Dec 1^st, 2007, 11:59am

Might depend on your body weight, I'm not sure. I take 300mg 3x per day for a total of 900mg per day.

Title: Re: Nurofen... it seems to work this way
Post by Guiseppi on Dec 2^nd, 2007, 12:02am

I'm male, 47 and weigh 190 pounds, I take 1200 mg a day while on cycle. Takes about 2 weeks to ramp up in my system, blocks about 90% hits for me.

Guiseppi

Title: Re: Nurofen... it seems to work this way
Post by Bob_Johnson on Dec 2^nd, 2007, 8:25pm

HERE ARE TWO MAJOR DOCUMENTS WITH RECOMMENDED TREATMENTS FOR CLUSTER HEADACHE, ONE FROM A U.S. PHYSICIAN, THE SECOND FROM EUROPE.
_________________________________________
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. Rozen)
================
Treatment guidelines from Europe

------
A. May, M. Leone, J. Áfra, M. Linde, P. S. Sándor, S. Evers, P. J. Goadsby:
EFNS guidelines on the treatment of cluster headache and other
trigeminalautonomic cephalalgias.
European Journal of Neurology. 2006; 13: 1066–1077.

Download free full text:
http://www.efns.org/files/guideline_49.pdf
(Thanks to "cluster" for link.)

Title: Re: Nurofen... it seems to work this way
Post by Buzz on Dec 12^th, 2007, 12:23pm

Update:

Last week I stopped the Nurofen and the headaches returned - max was a Kip7-8 lasting 30 mins with about 30 mins-1 hour between headaches.

On the weekend I had to visit friends and so decided to take 2 Nurofen every 4 hours. No headaches. (kept taking my Veraps) On Monday I reduced to 1 (342mg) Nurofen every 4 hours and I'm now down to 1 every 8 hours. Guess what? I can feel a hit coming...

I swear that the Nurofen is helping to keep them at bay..... to reiterate, they do NOT stop existing pain; they cannot even touch a headache but taken every 4 hours regardless of the state of pain... they seem to work... and I can lower the dose after about 24 hours...

The only nagging doubt I'm having is whether my current cluster is cycling at a rate that coincides with my Nurofen intake...

In the meantime, my eye is watering and I can feel the beast stirring... I will have 2 Nurofen and see what happens....