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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2002 >> Verapamil/Prednisone
        
(Message started by: Matt30 on Nov 23^rd, 2002, 6:30pm)

Title: Verapamil/Prednisone
Post by Matt30 on Nov 23^rd, 2002, 6:30pm

Hi my name is Matt, I have a few post's up but am still new to this site,anyway I get my CH's in episodes and was wondering what the differance is in betwween Prednisone and Verepamil.Do you have to stay on these meds. to keep the beast away?? And I saw a post that Pred. can make you chronic which I don't want,I am currently just taking Trex injections and the more I take the worse the shadows get, all day today on the couch and can't deal with that,some of you may have seen my one post that I havn't been making it to work lately and God I just want this cycle to go the F*ckaway,any help would be great.
Thank You,
Matt

Title: Re: Verapamil/Prednisone
Post by ChristineL on Nov 23^rd, 2002, 7:27pm

Matt,

First of all I do not believe Pred causes you to become chronic - at least in my case it didn't.

Pred is a steroid used to try and break the cycle. Verapamil is a Calcium channel blocker that I believe is used to keep the beast at bay, it is not suppose to break the cycle.

When my cycle started I started with Pred and Imitrex and O2 as abortives. The Pred did not break the cycle but it did lessen the severity and occurances. I started on the Verapamil shortly before I finished with the Pred.

I will stay on the Verapamil as it also works for my high blood pressure. Actually I believe that is what it is mostly prescribed for. What a lot of people do is to start cutting their dose to see if their cycle is over. If the Ch's return then they go back to their full dose. I take it twice a day and sometimes I forget to take one of the doses. If I do that more than 2 days in a row I will start to get shadows.

Many people on this MB have had good success with Verapamil. The down side is that it takes a week or so to kick in - hence taking the Pred along with it until it has a chance to kick in. The major side effect is constipation so lots of oatmeal helps. I found Oatmeal raisin cookies works every time!

Chris L

Title: Re: Verapamil/Prednisone
Post by NotH20 on Nov 26^th, 2002, 3:19pm

Matt - are you tapering down on the Pred? I wasn't sure from your post if you were taking the same dosage for weeks at a time.......you do need to be careful taking Pred - it has some nasty side effects. Do a search and read as much info as possible.

Long-term use of Verap is okay - you may want to have your blood pressure checked periodically or at least maintain some sort of discussion with your doc.

Good luck to you,
NotH20

Title: Re: Verapamil/Prednisone
Post by DONALD_F on Nov 26^th, 2002, 11:12pm

my first hand experience with predasone & fiorinal at the same time almost killed me in 1979. i had to have 4 units of blood and was in i.c.u. for 4 days. i have had clusters all of my adult life, and the only thing that i can say is pay attention to your body when you take new
strong pills. ;)