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 >> Rebounds
        
(Message started by: findjoshua on Jan 28^th, 2008, 7:59am)

Title: Rebounds
Post by findjoshua on Jan 28^th, 2008, 7:59am

I think the time has come to admit that my HA's are rebound related. THis cycle has been so bad and I have been managing it so poorly that I have taken Imitrex more frequently than recommended (3 20mg pills in a day would not be uncommon) and now the pain is pretty much on me as soon as the pills wear off.

SO- I am going to the neuro today, but my question is this. Is the only way to get over rebound HA's to NOT take meds when they hit so as not to perpetuate the cycle? Last night I rode out a Kip 9 no meds (tried O2 to no avail) and it was pretty nasty.

My eyes have been opened to the dangers of over medicating (which is hard for me not to do as a former addict) but I'll try anything now to stop the frequency of what I am calling rebounds.

Thanks,
Joshua

Title: Re: Rebounds
Post by Ray on Jan 28^th, 2008, 8:09am

Joshua:

I feel for you, I really do. The neuro should be considering preventative (prophylaxis) treatment(s) for you to lessen the number of CH that you're having.

It's NO FUN to ride out a high Kip hit with no meds, been there, done that -- it's devistating. There are good reasons to avoid going over the limit on triptan medications. Have you considered the injections? They work faster and you may be able to divide the doses so that you only use 1/2 or 1/3 of a shot to abort a hit.

Are you getting on the O2 at the first sign of an attack? Do you have a flow rate of at least 15 liters per minute and a non-rebreather mask? Have you tried red bull or other energy drinks at the first sign of a hit?

I'm sorry if you've already discussed these answers in another thread, but perhaps the answer is there.

With pain free wishes,

Ray

Title: Re: Rebounds
Post by findjoshua on Jan 28^th, 2008, 8:12am

I did put the O2 on immediately, but there was no stopping this one. I haven't tried the injections yet, but will ask re them. Also, the Neuro did prescribe and I am taking Verapamil (240mg low dose) but it may be time to up it. I think I will have to do ANOTHER steroid taper b/c I can't operate like this any longer. Just got off one a few weeks ago.

Re the Red Bull, i didn't this time but have in the past found it to work less than 20% of the time for me. I hate the taste and I had to drink massive qty's for it to work at all.

We shall see. thanks for replying.

Title: Re: Rebounds
Post by Bob_Johnson on Jan 28^th, 2008, 8:53am

Agree that trying the injection would be a good idea. A number of folks find the pill is not fast enough for CH and it may be that they are not giving you full relief and so the attack reestablishes itself.

The only way to diagnosis rebound is to top the suspect medication and see what happens. Obviously, need to replace it with another abortive in a different family of meds--bu an issue to work out with your doc.

Title: Re: Rebounds
Post by Guiseppi on Jan 28^th, 2008, 10:14am

Just to pick up on Ray's thread, you're describing a lot of abortive medications....stuff you take after a headache starts, but with the exception of the prednisone taper, you haven't mentioned any prevents. I'd run out of imitrex and oxygen in very short order if i relied solely on abortive meeications.

When on cycle I use 1200 mg a day of lithium as my preventative. It blocks 80-90% of my headaches depending on how strict I am about avoiding triggers. For doseage compariosns I'm 48, male, weigh about 190. Takes about 10-14 days to ramp up in my system, I use the prednisone taper duting that time.

Other popular preventatives are verapamil and topomax. Please ask your doctor about this approach to your CH, might reduce the the medications you have to take. Hang in there, I feel for you.

Guiseppi

Title: Re: Rebounds
Post by sandie99 on Jan 28^th, 2008, 12:35pm

Lots of good luck with the neuro! I hope that you'll find a treatment, which helps you now. :)

PF days,
Sanna

Title: Re: Rebounds
Post by jace77 on Jan 31^st, 2008, 7:07pm

that is exactly what my husband was experiencing, our family doctor gave him a injection of nubain/phenergan around noon and 7pm in day to try to give his body a break, it did help somewhat, only in basically knocking him out for a few hours, which is why we ended up at diamond headache clinic. He went from every few hours of attacks to 1 in 72 hours which the hospital treated with IV norflex and he said it stopped it within minutes! Keeping our fingers crossed they can put the beast to rest for awhile.

Title: Re: Rebounds
Post by Paul98 on Jan 31^st, 2008, 8:08pm

Find-

I agree that the injectable trex would be far better than oral. You have much better control of the dosage.

I have found that taking the minimal dosage of a drug is the best idea. Finding the "sweet spot" will take time because you have to do it over time and see what works. I take low doses of verapamil (can't take hi doses because of low BP) but the trex and prednisone I use the smallest amt possible. I would rether have a few H/A's break through rather than none. This way I know I'm at the lower end of medication. It has been many years since I had rebound H/A's.

-P.