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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2002 >> Cafergot as preventative
        
(Message started by: Grafwick on Aug 6^th, 2002, 2:03am)

Title: Cafergot as preventative
Post by Grafwick on Aug 6^th, 2002, 2:03am

What are the longer term effects of cafergot? Has anyone used it as a preventative?

I'm in my 5th week of ch after a 26 month reprive. I take Verapamil 240 SR with 10mg prednisone twice a day which have done a good job of preventing most headaches. Now, late in the day I can feel a stuffiness in my head which can last until bedtime and then the beast attacks. I've found that if I take cafergot before going to bed, I at least prevent the attack, but usually wake up at 2 or 3:00 wired up to go!

Any suggestions or comments?

Thanks and good luck to all keeping the beast at bay!

Title: Re: Cafergot as preventative
Post by Tom on Aug 6^th, 2002, 4:40am

For side effects of Cafergot etc look at:

http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic2/ergot.htm

ATB! Thomas

Title: Re: Cafergot as preventative
Post by Slammy on Aug 6^th, 2002, 2:20pm

I have been prescribed Cafergot as a preventative by the illustrious Dr. Kudrow. I am taking 320 MG of Verapamil a day, with a cafergot tab before I go to bed.

Before this, I used to take cafergot as an abortive... I found that it worked faster than Zomig in Tab form.

I used to get wired from the cafergot, but after awhile, my body has gotten used to it. it no longer affects my ability to sleep....

Slammy 8)

Title: Re: Cafergot as preventative
Post by Bob P on Aug 9^th, 2002, 9:19am

I have taken cafergot for my clusters the past 25 years.

As much as 25-30 tabs a week (3 times the allowed amount). The only side effects I've had are cold fingers and toes from the reduced circulation. My doc gets all shook up over the amount I take but I just keep a close eye on the didgets to make sure they don't start turning black.

It's never hurt my sleep.

Last cluster I went trhrough all of the triptans and wound up back on cafergot and O2. Works the best for me.

Title: Re: Cafergot as preventative
Post by ChristineL on Aug 9^th, 2002, 2:02pm

Hey Bob P,

Have you ever given yourself Cafergot injections? Works much quicker!!

Chris L

Title: Re: Cafergot as preventative
Post by Bob P on Aug 9^th, 2002, 6:11pm

Nope.

I've used ercaf (cafergot) coated pills, I've used the little tabs that disolve under the tongue and I've used the inhalers.

Regular old pills work just fine for me as long as I've got O2. The O2 either aborts the HA or keeps it in the 1 to 3 level until the cafergot takes over.

Last cluster I tried Imitrex injections. Used the 1/2 dose method. I was up 4 times that night re-injecting. With cafergot I'd go to bed, wake up 1 1/2 hours later with an attack brewing, swallow the cafergot, hit the O2 and 20 minutes later I was back in bed for the rest of the night.

I've never tried the DHE injections though.