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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2002 >> DHE ergotomine drip?
        
(Message started by: justin on Jun 6^th, 2002, 1:14pm)

Title: DHE ergotomine drip?
Post by justin on Jun 6^th, 2002, 1:14pm

what's with the 2 day hospital DHE ergotomine drip thing. work for people? side effects? problems, complications? i'm chronic. neuro suggested it. hate the steroids i'm on now for short term. think i might do the drip thing next weekend if they're still this bad. 4 kip8's' a day.

ugh
jd

Title: Re: DHE ergotomine drip?
Post by eyes_afire on Jun 6^th, 2002, 8:00pm

Hi Justin. It's probably best to ask your doctor, but here's some info I have. It's not from personal experience, but maybe it will help answer some of your questions concerning IV DHE:

According to the book 'Headache Help' by Lawrence Robbins, M.D. and Susan S. Lang (paraphrased)... this treatment is relatively safe and very effective for preventing and relieving frequent or severe cluster headaches and may give relief for 1 to 8 months. You may have to take antinausea medication and the treatment may be sedating.

According to the book, the side effects (if any) usually last less than 1 hour and may include nausea, hot feeling, tightness in throat or chest, leg and muscle cramps, and temporary rise in blood pressure.

Title: Re: DHE ergotomine drip?
Post by sanjay on Jun 7^th, 2002, 5:27am

hi justin,

I'm chronic too. Last year I spend 1 week in the Hospital for the DHE (IV ). Works great. The CH's went away really fast. No side effects whatsoever, except that I had to have a anti-nausea shot before the DHE.
Unfortunately for me, the CH's came back within 24 hrs. of returning home, although my Doc said that they CAN keep the beast away for much longer.

sanjay

Title: Re: DHE ergotomine drip?
Post by NotH20 on Jun 7^th, 2002, 10:32am

Hey Justin - I've had ch's for over 22 years - cycle every Fall for a few months. This year they started in October and it was a pretty bad cycle. My meds included Verap, Prednisone, Keppra, Topomax, Maxalt, Zomig, Imitrex pills, and my FAVORITE Imitrex injections. Nothing was stopping them so in January I went into the hopsital for a DHE IV. I had to be totally med free for 24 hours prior so I was extremely nervous. Went into the hospital and about 10 mins prior to my first dose I started w/ a CH and it went full blown prior to the time of my medicine. Within a few moments I got total relife from that beast. The meds made me extremely loopy :o very tired and sorta outta my head for a few days. I was in there for 6 days total. Had one break thru CH while in there due to wrong dosage (too low - nurse mistake) and after being discharged had 2 more CH's at home. Came home w/ the DHE ampules and used them for those 2 ch's.

That was my last CH - in mid January and i've been totally pain free since that time except for some minor twinges every now and then. I decreased all my meds and April 18th was my last pill - now I'm totally med free too! ;D

I believe strongly that the DHE worked for me. I can tell you though I will not use it first for my next cycle - I will wait and try the other meds too. It's expensive to stay in the hospital and the recovery time for me was a little long.

Good luck to you - keep me posted on your progress.

NotH20