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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2002 >> does aspirin help on low level CH?
        
(Message started by: richyfourtythree on Dec 18^th, 2002, 3:17am)

Title: does aspirin help on low level CH?
Post by richyfourtythree on Dec 18^th, 2002, 3:17am

Hi,

my usual attacks are not so severe (kip scale 7). I thought aspirin gave me relieve, but I'm not so sure anymore, as I lately took one which had absolutly no effect. No I wonder if the other times when I thought it helped may just have been coincidences and the attack would have ended anyway.
I know painblockers like aspirin do not help at level 9 or ten. But what are your experiences on lower levels? I'd hate to eat tons of aspirin without any effect ...

Cheers

Olaf

Title: Re: does aspirin help on low level CH?
Post by suzy617 on Dec 18^th, 2002, 6:13am

Good morning Rich, I posted a similar answer to this question yesterday to someone. For years I would take up to 5 advils at a time as soon as an attack would come on. Whether it ended up a kip 7 or 4 or 10, they would usually stop after 45 minutes to an hour so I always assumed the advil helped but I am realizing now that it was just the attack ending and most people here would tell you that advil, tylenol, etc. have no effect on CH. There are much better meds to help you without taking the chance of ruining your stomach. Some people psycologically feel the need to take the aspirin anyway but maybe you should skip them next time and see just how long your attack lasts without them, I'll bet it will be the same amount of time.
Have a good day,
suzy

Title: Re: does aspirin help on low level CH?
Post by Karla on Dec 18^th, 2002, 8:18am

Nothing over the counter has ever helped me. I think it was just coincindence for you.

Title: Re: does aspirin help on low level CH?
Post by Bob P on Dec 18^th, 2002, 9:34am

For many cluster periods I would take 3 asprin every 3 hours all day, just for insurance. The attacks came anyway. Eventually started barfing up blood from a duodenal ulcer. No more asprin after that.

Title: Re: does aspirin help on low level CH?
Post by Riccardo on Dec 18^th, 2002, 10:00am

Agree with Suzi (and all others....)
Is a psychological thing. The attack goes after 30/45 mins, the known effect of aspirin and other .... stomach drillers..... the same.

I did the same in my previous years. The only benefit is that ibuprofen kills the secondary, light headache that comes after the attack.

Title: Re: does aspirin help on low level CH?
Post by Jarvis on Dec 18^th, 2002, 10:38pm

..Agree with all replies....... Last night I really needed a nights sleep so I went ahead and took 1200 mg ibuprofen prescription strength. After 25 + years you would think I would learn. The ibuprofen put me right to sleep after an hour.. The cluster woke me after 45 min. K10s all night after that. Woke in a fog instead of full alert and that makes it much harder to do battle..... I have done this too many times over the years thinking maybe. but as you all said its pshycological...aspirin tylenol allways the same, hi dose or low dose. worse still I did the same just a few weeks ago. Otc pain killers are wonderfull for some things but not clusters. My belief is they actually make the pain more intense...... I'll probably try it again though. Nobody ever said I was sensible.

Title: Re: does aspirin help on low level CH?
Post by jmorgan52 on Dec 19^th, 2002, 7:28am

my cycles usually start with very mild but annoying nagging HA every few days for a few weeks before the headbangers start. They are like kip 1 or 2 maybe and then OTC painkillers or Tiger Balm rubbed on the temple works for a while.

When they get to kip 5 or more then no amount of OTC stuff helps and I ususally ride them out until I get the really big ones and use Imigran inj, and to date only Imigran Inj works and nothing else even remotely helps to stop the pain. Relief for me is then quite quick in 8-10 mins. I find If I don't take the imigran then the pain persists for up to 12 hours unlike many here who report CH of under an hour per attack.

Before I discovered imigran (about 7 years ago) I used to get shorter CH which suddenly stopped after an hour or 2 and then came back a few hours later just as I started to feel better!

With imigran I find that I get at least 12 hours relief until the next CH. Maybe using imigran changes the pattern or enough stays in the system to prevent the next one so soon after?

Love J

Title: Re: does aspirin help on low level CH?
Post by Drk^Angel on Dec 19^th, 2002, 5:42pm

I have never gotten any relief for any headache while using OTC meds. Save the aspirin for when ya get a fever.

PFDAN.............................. Drk^Angel

Title: Re: does aspirin help on low level CH?
Post by suzy617 on Dec 19^th, 2002, 7:19pm

So true Drk, If I would have saved all the advils I took for my attacks I could have cured all the fevers for the rest of my life with them and then some...

suzy

Title: Re: does aspirin help on low level CH?
Post by notseinfeld on Dec 24^th, 2002, 2:08am

In theory the aspirin 'thins the blood' which is why it is frequently used to thwart a heart patient that feels a heart attack coming on. Its effect on CH is likely minimal but it does ease blood flow through the veins diminishing the pulsatory effect of the cluster attack. The vein is still resting/pressing on the trigeminal nerve which is where the pain stems from. No, the OTC's are too non-specific to be of any relief in a condition like ours that knows no bounds and has no mercy.