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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2003 >> Indocin no good for CH
        
(Message started by: Bob P on Mar 27^th, 2003, 8:41am)

Title: Indocin no good for CH
Post by Bob P on Mar 27^th, 2003, 8:41am

This from Cephalgia:

The interval between indomethacin administration and clinical response may be extremely relevant in the assessment of chronic paroxysmal hemicrania (CPH) and other unilateral headache disorders like cluster headache (CH), with which CPH can be confounded. Indomethacin is inactive in CH; however, in some anecdotal reports in recent years, doubt has been cast on the ineffectiveness of indomethacin in CH. In this study, we have re-assessed the effect of indomethacin treatment in a group of 18 patients with episodic CH (three females and 15 males). From the day 8 of the active period, indomethacin 100 mg i.m. was administered every 12 h, for 2 consecutive days, in an open fashion. The mean daily attack frequency before the test (1.6 ± 0.6) was not statistically different from that on day 1 (2.1 ± 0.9) and day 2 (1.9 ± 0.8) after indomethacin administration. The mean interval between indomethacin injection and the following attack (day 1 and day 2) was 4.6 + 1.1 h. We did not observe any refractory period in any patient after indomethacin. Since the 'expected' attack occurred when there theoretically could have been a protective effect after indomethacin administration, it can be reasonably assumed that there is no such protective effect. The use of a test dose of 100 mg i.m. indomethacin (INDOTEST) appears to provide a clear-cut answer in this situation. It may be a useful tool for a proper clinical assessment of unilateral headache with relatively short-lasting attacks when problems of classification arise. A correct diagnosis of CPH or CH is important, since a CPH diagnosis may imply a lifelong treatment with a potentially noxious drug.

Title: Re: Indocin no good for CH
Post by talitha on Apr 6^th, 2003, 6:41pm

Hey Bob, Talitha here. Finally got my O2 and non-rebreather mask! What a difference. Stops the mid range CH in about 5-8 minutes. On Covera HS 360 mg a day also. However, the headaches are still here. When I first started taking the Covera (verapamil in a fancy tablet with little holes in it ::) the neuro also put me on Indocin. that lasted for 4 weeks the headaches did stop. Stopped taking Indocin-headaches are back...could be a coincidence but I think I'll check into getting more. Or, perhaps I have an axis (of evil?!) problem and I could just get my head screwed on straight by some guy who can't write, spell or reason his way out of a hospital gown.
pain free days and nights to you!
talitha

Title: Re: Indocin no good for CH
Post by Bob P on Apr 6^th, 2003, 9:28pm

Or maybe you have CPH and not CH. Indocine is almost 100% effective for CPH and it is more of a female malady where CH is more male. Worth a try to take it again.

Title: Re: Indocin no good for CH
Post by talitha on Apr 7^th, 2003, 6:36pm

Now thats a possibility.although the headaches have very classic CH presentation...when i was first diagnosed 20 years ago the neuro said the only thing that wasn't classic was the fact that I'm not male ::)
have always been a gender bender that way...
thanks for all your input on this site Bob
Talitha

Title: Re: Indocin no good for CH
Post by Bob P on Apr 8^th, 2003, 8:24am

Well CPH does present very similar to CH. Only difference is that the attacks are shorter but more frequent. The pain, tears, runny nose, etc. are all the same.