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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2002 >> help me find a good medicine
        
(Message started by: MANDY on Mar 12^th, 2002, 3:50pm)

Title: help me find a good medicine
Post by MANDY on Mar 12^th, 2002, 3:50pm

i was recently diagnosed with cluster headaches, my dr put me on pred and imitrex, after fioricet didnt work. the pred worked after a couple days, the imitrex spray only made it worse, is there a pain medication that would work quickly until the pred kicks into my system?

Title: Re: help me find a good medicine
Post by kim on Mar 12^th, 2002, 6:09pm

Hey Mandy, sorry about the chs. How many attacks are you currently getting? Pred and imitrix is a commonly prescribed medication. There is tons of other stuff available. Surf around this website and you'll get some ideas! As for the fiorecet (sp), I would use sparingly (i know, i know) because it is a narcotic and can easily aggravate chs if you take too much. I was getting hit bad 6 - 8 times a day and popping those babies like candy for months at a time and boy o boy did i get sick - so EASY DOES IT WITH PAIN PILLS!!!! What else are you doing to cope besides the medication? Wishing you PFDAN - Kim

Title: Re: help me find a good medicine
Post by Ann on Mar 12^th, 2002, 7:43pm

Hi Mandy! Sorry you're getting hit. I've been using imitrex injections since last september and I don't ever want to change meds! It gets rid of an attack within 5 minutes. I'm also taking verapamil as a preventatvie as well. You may want to check those out.

Good luck and PFDAN to all

Title: Re: help me find a good medicine
Post by nancyc on Mar 12^th, 2002, 7:51pm

Good advice Ann...verapamil is the one preventative with the least side effects...worked for me for almost a year....and i love my imitrex shots...cant live without them...Good luck Mandy...sorry for your diagnosis....you will be in my prayers... :D

Title: Re: help me find a good medicine
Post by chjohn on Mar 12^th, 2002, 8:19pm

Doctor prescribed Prednisone, and Hydrocodone for me, neither worked at all. I'm going thru it with no medication. I was told that Prednisone works best when taken with a preventative, and if you look at the medication survey on this site, the folks that have responded say Imitrex is the most effective medication for pain (or to abort an attack), next effective (from what they say, and I believe them), is oxygen.
Hot water, water(lots of water), and coffee, can help, it's what I am using.
Recommend looking up the possible, side effects of prescribed medications, on other websites, I type in the name of the drug in the Google.com search engine search box. Can be scary though.
John

Title: Re: help me find a good medicine
Post by Karla on Mar 12^th, 2002, 9:51pm

You might want to try another triptan and see if that works like amerge, maxalt or zomig. Also oxygen is a great help for many people. Percacet, vicodin, stadol ns all help in aborting or atleast dulling the pain.

Title: Re: help me find a good medicine
Post by kim on Mar 13^th, 2002, 11:46am

I'm on a form of triptan (maxalt) and a seizure med (neurontin). So far I'm doing pretty good with them. Vicadin can cause nausea and lack of appetite. Once again, Pain meds are a catch 22 and be careful. I'm a veteran with that and it is dangerous for the ch cycle. I've been reading about melatonin - check it out. Also, try having a cup of strong coffee when you feel the attack coming. The caffeine is a natural analgesic. This is present in most painmeds. PFDAN! Kim

Title: Re: help me find a good medicine
Post by Marijke on Mar 14^th, 2002, 1:15pm

Hi Mandy,

Stupid thing with cluster: what helps me may not help you. What helped in the past may not help in a next cycle.
Having said this, the combo that works good to very good for me is:
- indocin 100 mg suppo's before bedtime for about 4 nights when the attacks start coming
- verapamil, 360 mg (morning 120, evening 240). Effective dose for you could be higher (up to 920 mg)
- oxygen during attacks, helps in around 5 minutes. Flow rate of around 8-9 liters/minute.

Hope this helped!

Hang in there,

Marijke