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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2002 >> Anyone used Cafergot?
        
(Message started by: b.bop on Nov 11^th, 2002, 9:11pm)

Title: Anyone used Cafergot?
Post by b.bop on Nov 11^th, 2002, 9:11pm

I was prescribed Cafergot to prevent CHs occuring. Has anyone used this and what were the results? I kind of think my doctor didn't know a whole lot about what he could do for me...

Title: Re: Anyone used Cafergot?
Post by paul_b on Nov 11^th, 2002, 11:35pm

You are right. Time to educate yourself and your doc. Most of us have some succes with O2 and imitrex. You need to read the info on the site, esp. OUCH to help you identify your own unique CH. We all have things in common and we have differences. Good Luck

Title: Re: Anyone used Cafergot?
Post by ChristineL on Nov 12^th, 2002, 6:39am

I used Cafergot years ago (back in the 80's) along with O2 before some of these new meds came out. Some people on this board still use it and with success. If it works for you great! I used it as an abortive however not as a preventative. I am now using Verapamil as a preventative and so far (knock on wood) it is keeping the beast at bay.

Chris L

Title: Re: Anyone used Cafergot?
Post by Bob P on Nov 12^th, 2002, 11:14am

I've used it for 25 years and love it.

Last cluster I decided to go modern and try the triptans. Went through Maxalt, Zomig, Amerge and a ll 3 versions of Imitrex. They all worked but I felt like shit. After fighting with my neurologist and insurance to get the amount of triptans I needed, I gave up and went back to cafergot. Felt 100% better.

A couple of things about cafergot.
1.) It is slow to act so you need O2 also if you are using it as an abortive.
2.) I wind up taking 20-30 tabs a week. More than you are supposed to take. My fingers and toes are cold from the lack of circulation. If you take a lot, watch for signs of circulation loss. Too much and you can wind up with ergotism and eventually gangreene, resulting in the loss of your didgets.

Also, when I used triptans I was up 2 or 3 times a night with attacks. With cafergot, 1 attack, take the cafergot, and I was good for the rest of the night. Some do prescribe it as a preventative. Taken before bed, it may stop the night attacks.

Title: Re: Anyone used Cafergot?
Post by Lenny on Nov 12^th, 2002, 2:57pm

I took it for awhile,i would take it 1-hour prior to bed. It would work most of the time. I came off of it because i could not wake up ( playing with the snooze button
1 - 2 hours everyday ). Good Luck.

Title: Re: Anyone used Cafergot?
Post by Axis on Nov 12^th, 2002, 4:30pm

Cafergot works diff for everyone, But I used it for 7 years and was PF the whole time, I start takeing it (tabs) 2 weeks before my CHs start (1 tab per day) and keep takeing it till 2 weeks after my CHs stop.
Please take the time to look over the board as there are lots of post about cafergot and some I posted just the other day right below this post.
PS.
up to 14 tabs per week is all the doctors would like to see us take, I was lucky because it works so well for me that 7 tabs per week is all I needed and no ill side effects at all.

Title: Re: Anyone used Cafergot?
Post by Not4Hire on Nov 12^th, 2002, 7:12pm

Quote:

...at the risk of exhibiting my considerable and well-documented ignorance: how the hell do you know "two weeks before (my/your) CHs start" to start taking the med? ...and then keep taking 2 weeks after they stop......?

....and if you were PF (i.e. Pain Free) for 7 years, then how do you know (or why do you THINK?) that you were having CH?

...please note, I am not disputing your diagnosis/condition--only you or your doctor know if you have CH......but something just sounds WRONG here.....got stock in Cafergot? ;D

Title: Re: Anyone used Cafergot?
Post by Axis on Nov 13^th, 2002, 6:45am

LOL,
Its not very hard, Mine start within 1 to 2 weeks of the same time every year.
And to keep from takeing the time to type all this crap about a little pain here or there I just say I was PF.
There was in that 7 years a time or 2 that I would run out of cafergot, Because I forgot my refills or was out of town longer then I thought I'd be and didnt have enough tabs with me.
3 days or more without a tab when in my CHs will let them pop back up.

Would it make you feel better if I said it like this..............
Every year my CHs start around the middle of August and run thur any where from the frist week of December to the frist week of January SO I start the tads around the frist week of August and take them till middle of January.
Does that make you feel better ?