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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2002 >> Worked at first
        
(Message started by: barbee on Dec 24^th, 2002, 3:04pm)

Title: Worked at first
Post by barbee on Dec 24^th, 2002, 3:04pm

Hi fellow CH'ers. Because the HAs hit me after 1 or 2 hours of sleep, I could never get the oxygen before the beast had taken over.
My Neuro scribed Baclofen. I've tried so many other things. Baclofen is like Verapamil, in that You start slowly, and then increase it. It was mildly effective. I actually got some good sleep (4 or 5 hours per night), for about a month. Then it gradually lost its power to the beast. Now I'm decreasing it gradually. Since the
d.... headaches persist, I think I'll go back to wine with dinner. What's to lose?

Title: Re: Worked at first
Post by SommelierCH on Dec 24^th, 2002, 4:56pm

Hi barbee,

What works for me is a triptan, Maxalt MLT 10mg. or Zomig ZMT 5mg. (fast acting, under the tongue dissolving tablets, NOT the regular tablets) combined with oxygen therapy. You can’t get many Maxalt tabs from insurance (6 per month max. for me) so you have to save those for the Big One and you can’t take more than 2 in any 24 hour period, so the oxygen is absolutely necessary for all the other times you feel the shadows creeping in. Go to the search button in the top right corner and type in “oxygen” and read up. This site is your one stop information resource, so start reading all the categories on the left hand side of the page, read it all, the more knowledge you have the better you can communicate with the medical community. Be sure to read about and do a search for “triggers”, these are catalysts that can really set us off. My triggers are alcohol (even the smallest amount, like a non-alcoholic beer) and bright light in my right (cluster side) eye. When I feel the shadows creeping in I hit the Oxygen and that pushes them back.

However, when I’m asleep I can’t feel the shadows increasing and I wake up with the Big One. Jonny clued me in that if you take abortive triptans (I use Maxalt MLT 10mg. or Zomig ZMT 5mg., both are quick dissolving tabs) before going to bed, they can prevent that night time attack, especially if you get hit, like I do, within 2 hours of going to sleep. The half-life of both of these tabs is in the 2-3 hour range. This has enabled me to get quality sleep these last 2 weeks. Avoiding triggers during your cycle can dramatically affect the intensity, duration and number of attacks.

Good luck,

David J.

Title: Re: Worked at first
Post by domm on Dec 24^th, 2002, 8:37pm

barbee - even when into an attack, I'd hit the O2 and within minutes the attack would end. I hope you're using a non rebreather and 10 - 15 lpm of O2.
May Santa bring you a full night's sleep tonight.
domm

Title: Re: Worked at first
Post by dodger on Dec 24^th, 2002, 11:21pm

Barbie: Like you I also get a visitor every hr. or 2 hr's after falling asleep. even during afternoon naps. After seeing the suggestion on this site, I have been taking a 50mg.tab of dramdimine prior to going to bed. The 1st. night I tried this, I slept through the whole night! About 4 days ago. Since then I am back to getting up every couple of hrs. but when I wake up for the morning, usually 4:30-5:00, I have not had the usual H/A. Seems the Dramdimine has helped some. Of course this could change in the future. Good Luck.

Title: Re: Worked at first
Post by barbee on Dec 24^th, 2002, 11:44pm

Thanks Dodger. So glad you found something that works at least part of the time.
Is Dramdamine the same as Dramamine? That is mainly for motion sickness, but of course, could work for other things as well.

Baclofen is touted as as a remedy for seizures, and anything over a K-6 is a pain seizure. PFDAN, friend.

Title: Re: Worked at first
Post by dodger on Dec 26^th, 2002, 8:29am

Barbee: Sorry, Igoofed up the spelling on the 1st. note. Actually what I'm using is Walgreens brand of Dramamine, it is spelled,dimenhydrinate. I usually take 1 tab.(50mg) around 10:00pm. After a week of this, I am still having what I call good results. This morning I had 1 10 min. H.A @ 3:40 am. went back to bed, and got up at 7:30! This is about as good as it gets. Another plus I've seen is that when I wake up for the last time, I don't have a H.A.! I am also taking 20mg. of Prednisone, and 80mg.of Inderal a day. As far as the wine go's, right now thats a no-no for me. would love to, but am just afraid to take a chance. Good luck.