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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2002 >> blood pressure medication to prevent
        
(Message started by: darryl on Aug 6^th, 2002, 6:42pm)

Title: blood pressure medication to prevent
Post by darryl on Aug 6^th, 2002, 6:42pm

Hi, I am a cluster headache sufferer for the last 8 years. The condition was only diagnosed 2 years ago though due to misdiagnosis.

Due to high blood pressure problems last year, I am now taking medicine called Ziak which controls blood pressure and my head feels much better as if there is not much pressure by the eye. Thankfully I have not had an episode this year yet as i am an episodic sufferer. I wanted to know if anyone has had a similiar experience that by using medicine to lower blood pressure, the onset of a periodic cluster is delayed.

Title: Re: blood pressure medication to prevent
Post by ChristineL on Aug 6^th, 2002, 7:20pm

Well - I have been on Altace to lower my BP for the past 6 months. Interestingly I was a Chronic Cluster Head who had been in remission for the past 14 years. My CH's just returned about a month ago.

Go figure!!!

Chris L

Title: Re: blood pressure medication to prevent
Post by eyes_afire on Aug 6^th, 2002, 7:55pm

Hi Darryl and welcome to the site. Perhaps Ziak is a medicine in the same class as verapamil (I don't know). Verapamil is a calcium channel blocker which is mainly used to treat high blood pressure. Incidentally, it is one of the best preventative medications for clusterheadaches. Check out the medical info button on the left side. It has lots of good info. Also check out the OUCH website.

Title: Re: blood pressure medication to prevent
Post by Ueli on Aug 6^th, 2002, 8:35pm

Ziak is a combination of Bisoprolol fumarate (a beta blocker) and hydrochlorothiazide (a diuretic). Beta blockers are also useful as a preventative for meegraines, but only for a few clusterheads it successful as a CH preventative.

Ramipril (Altace) is an ACE (angiotensin converting enzyme) inhibitor used to lower blood pressure. I have no idea how ACE inhibitors influence clusters.

Another group of meds used against high blood pressure are the calcium channel blockers. One of them, Verapamil, is the CH preventative of first choice too; many of us have great success with it.

I suggest you discuss with your doc the use of Verapamil as high blood pressure medication. Using this, you could swat two flies in one hit. :D

PFNADs
Ueli