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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2003 >> Lithium
        
(Message started by: vaughan on Apr 12^th, 2003, 8:40pm)

Title: Lithium
Post by vaughan on Apr 12^th, 2003, 8:40pm

I have suffered from cluster headaches for the past five years with an attack almost every day.My neurologist suggested I try Lithium and I thought why the hell not.After about 10 days my attacks became less and less severe until finally :-*they went away.I have been three months now without one and it is fantastic.

Vaughan Coburn

Sydney,Aust

Title: Re: Lithium
Post by eyes_afire on Apr 12^th, 2003, 9:02pm

Wow Vaughan, thanks for the good report. Those of us who have not yet traveled those waters need to hear that there is hope.

--- Steve, one of many...

Title: Re: Lithium
Post by Marc on Apr 12^th, 2003, 9:50pm

Hello Vaughan,

Just curious:

1) What dose are you taking?
2) Did you slowly increase the dose?
3) How often are you scheduled to get blood work done?

Thanks in advance,
Marc

Title: Re: Lithium
Post by cluster0557 on Apr 13^th, 2003, 2:33am

Man am I glad Lithium works for someone. It damn near kicked my but during the dosage buildup.

I turned into a true live walking zombie in three weeks and had to say goodbye to it.

Like Marks Question how did you build up your dosage ?
Maybe mine was too aggresive!

Title: Re: Lithium
Post by tommyD on Apr 13^th, 2003, 6:28am

A lot of folks have found that a combination of lithium and verapimil has worked when other conventional meds have not. There are plenty of posts on this in the back pages & archives.

As a side note/warning, do NOT use lithium and shrooms (or other indole-ring hallucinogens) at the same time, unless you want to, like, become ONE with the UNIVERSE, dude... Lithium seems to greatly enhance the psychedelic effects of the shroom treatment.

-tommyD

Title: Re: Lithium
Post by cluster0557 on Apr 13^th, 2003, 7:45am

on 04/13/03 at 06:28:43, tommyD wrote:

.

As a side note/warning, do NOT use lithium and shrooms (or other indole-ring hallucinogens) at the same time, unless you want to, like, become ONE with the UNIVERSE, dude... Lithium seems to greatly enhance the psychedelic effects of the shroom treatment.

-tommyD

TommyD for some reason you just let the question slide away.

Too many shrooms and lithium ?

Title: Re: Lithium
Post by tommyD on Apr 13^th, 2003, 7:59am

Sorry, 0557. Wasn't trying to answer your question. I was only suggesting research into the verap/lithium combo, as I haven't seen this mentioned lately.

That okay with you?

Title: Re: Lithium
Post by cluster0557 on Apr 13^th, 2003, 8:02am

Sure why not.
I am awake, It is Sunday and I have a cluster SO all is right with the world. or at least typical for me :-/

Sorry for the dig.

Title: Re: Lithium
Post by Karla on Apr 13^th, 2003, 8:08am

I am so happy that lithium is working for you! I took 900mg for a couple years. It reduced my headache frequency in half.

Title: Re: Lithium
Post by MarkW on Apr 26^th, 2003, 6:21pm

Nice work Vaughan! After going through the usual rounds of Beta blockers and other run of the mill Cluster preventives for about 24 or so years, my doc of the past 10 years put me on 600mg in the morning and 600mg at night. After about a year and a half (I get clusters about once a year for about 2-3 1/2 months), things were going well, aside from occasional tremor in my hands. Well, about 3 weeks ago all that changed...and I am back to 1-2 attacks a night. I won't be able to see the doc until the end of next week, but I know my lithium level is "safe" right now according to the blood tests he makes me get on a regular basis. How much do you take per day? Do you shake at all?

As an aside...does anyone else with eposodic clusters, after you have had a year off or so, and things are just a rosey as can be, and you get that certain headache...deny that "the headache I just had, although mild, was NOT...WILL NOT...CAN NOT be a cluster"? It is impossible for people to know what they are like unless they were to experience it. Not on my worst enemy!

Mark

Title: Re: Lithium
Post by jonny on Apr 26^th, 2003, 6:52pm

Gee, where were you 12 yrs ago when I started taking it?

LMMFAO....You dudes are slow......LOL ;D

...........................jonny

Title: Re: Lithium
Post by GaryLA on Apr 29^th, 2003, 1:36am

I got great relief with Lithium. 300mgs of Lithium and 240mgs of Covera once a day got rid of the clusters for me. Finally, after 10+ years of chasing down the right combo, I found David Kudrow and he wrote the winning prescription.

Good luck to all.

Title: Re: Lithium
Post by brewcrew on Apr 29^th, 2003, 1:39pm

on 04/26/03 at 18:21:40, MarkW wrote:

As an aside...does anyone else with eposodic clusters, after you have had a year off or so, and things are just a rosey as can be, and you get that certain headache...deny that "the headache I just had, although mild, was NOT...WILL NOT...CAN NOT be a cluster"? It is impossible for people to know what they are like unless they were to experience it. Not on my worst enemy!

Mark

Anytime I begin a new cycle, I go through about 2 days of denial before starting on whatever regimen of prophylactic meds I will be taking. We want SO BADLY for it to be something other than what it is that we play these head games with ourselves. Otherwise intelligent people, too.

Bill

Title: Re: Lithium
Post by bradwynns on May 4^th, 2003, 11:26pm

i tried that combo once durning a sansert 30 cleanout and i didn't have any problems except it lessoned my sex drive wich didn't work out very well so i went back on sansert wich is now done so i have been thinking of going back and trying it again.

Title: Re: Lithium
Post by chris on May 6^th, 2003, 4:21pm

I have been chronic for 6 years and have tried everything under the sun, and the only thing that keeps me from getting them is lithium/verapamil combined.
usually 300 to 900 mg of lithium dependening on the cycle. and 240 of verapamil . have to alter doses every couple of months. very hard on the stomach though. I take diphenoxylate a hour ahead of other meds. try the slow release lithium works better for clusters and is easier on the belly. takes a litlle while to build up in the blood stream,2 weeks. only have to have blood tests done about 2 times a year. Chris

Title: Re: Lithium
Post by ZAIRA on May 7^th, 2003, 2:30pm

My experience: ;D
Lithium+Verapamil for me it worked but I got high dosages (1200 mg+900 mg) fortunately without side effects....

Good Luck, Zaira ;)

Title: Re: Lithium
Post by NewHeadPLZ on May 13^th, 2003, 3:24pm

Lithium made me shake too much - 1000mg a day and, although it helped for a while, the BEAST came back >:(

Seems that no matter what we take, sooner or later the Headaches break through!