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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2003 >> Preventive medications
        
(Message started by: pain-n-the-head on May 30^th, 2003, 9:46pm)

Title: Preventive medications
Post by pain-n-the-head on May 30^th, 2003, 9:46pm

Hi,

I'm new to the post, and I was diagnosed with ch's. I was given a prescription of atenolol to take as a preventive, and maxalt-mlt to take when I have an attack. Has anyone else been given a prescription of atenolol to take??

Title: Re: Preventive medications
Post by cleon on May 31^st, 2003, 6:42am

We've all tried many things, just get into this site and read and read. look at the oxygen 'thing' - it really does help - somewhere on this site you will find something that will help you. Sorry to see you here, but this is also where you will find help and you will also find skeptical shits - listen to what you want to.

Title: Re: Preventive medications
Post by pain-n-the-head on May 31^st, 2003, 9:43am

Thanks,

I will try the oxygen therapy!!! :)

Title: Re: Preventive medications
Post by Ueli on May 31^st, 2003, 12:18pm

Atenolol is a beta blocker and is sometimes useful as a prentative for meegraines, but for a clusterhead it usually brings only some nasty side effects.

For cluster headaches the preventative of first choice are calcium channel blockers, like Verapamil. Many clusterheads have great success with Verapamil (if taken at a high enough dose).

You should urge your doctor to drop the beta blockers in favor of calcium channel blockers.

PFNADs
Ueli

Title: Re: Preventive medications
Post by steve34877 on May 31^st, 2003, 1:08pm

Am taking verapamil at the moment.It is having some effect....although good or bad I am not quite sure.Am having a couple of days ch free then having 2 or 3 mind blowers on the 3rd day,instead of the one a day I was getting.Am back to the specialist on weds when I think she will up the dosage,but I think I am on the right track.Hang in there and I am sure you will find the right med for you.

Steve34877

Title: Re: Preventive medications
Post by Kenzie60 on May 31^st, 2003, 2:08pm

I am also on Verapamil 480 mgs a day, Topamax 100mg a day and Amitriptyl (Elival) 40mg a day. These seem to do the trick. I have been pain free for 2 weeks with just shadows of Kip 2 or 3.

Roseanne

Title: Re: Preventive medications
Post by williamsmh on May 31^st, 2003, 3:33pm

I say go ahead and try the atenolol.

It may not be effective for the majority of clusterheads, but that doesn't mean it won't work for you.

I have been on a billion (ok I'm exagerating a bit) medications - some with some success, some with none.

It really seems to depend on the person.
For instance, topamax has been effective for many people. I was on it - it didn't touch the clusters and I was so drugged out I couldn't function. But... others find it works great.

It seems that for many, the search for cluster relief is a long road with many different drugs. If you're already on the atenolol - give it some time and see what happens. If it doesn't work - at least you can cross it off the list and not wonder later whether you should have been on it.

Just my 2 cents...
Mark

Title: Re: Preventive medications
Post by Svenn on Jun 1^st, 2003, 2:49pm

Hi there

This is my coctail

Verapamil Retard 120mgX5-7/daily during cycle 3 weeks after last hit tapering down with 1 verap every 3/4 days until you are on 1 a day.1 a day for another 2 weeks you can decide to quit the verap or take 1 a day.Oxygene alone at 10ltm for 15 minutes or combined with imitrex-shots does miracles.The shots should start working in 6-9minutes.a few seconds after that you are almost painfree
Prednisolone in high doze for 10 days 80mg
then over a 3 weeks periode step down like 60-50-40-30-20-10-5mg every 3/4 day
This work fine for me

The very best from Svenn

Title: Re: Preventive medications
Post by Major_Headcase on Jun 2^nd, 2003, 9:08am

I used Svenn's regimen my last cycle and got great results ... well, except for the nasty prednisone side effects, but it knocked out my CH this cycle. The relief from CH outweighed the Pred side effects. It will be the first thing I try next cycle.

-John

Title: Re: Preventive medications
Post by Roxy on Jun 2^nd, 2003, 5:27pm

Here's the link to the 02 page. Read up on it before talking with your doctor. Most doctors provide a slower flow rate than you need to get relief.

http://www.maplefallswebdesign.com/misc/oxygen/oxygen.htm

Title: Re: Preventive medications
Post by Frank on Jun 2^nd, 2003, 10:55pm

on 06/02/03 at 17:27:57, Roxy wrote:

I talked with my doctor about the recommended flow rate for CH and he still insisted on prescribing only 6 litres per minute. I just got the O2 tanks paid for by insurance, then I cranked it up to 8-10 litres per minute anyway. How is anyone going to know? They don't (F* them).

Title: Re: Preventive medications
Post by jdownes on Jun 5^th, 2003, 7:05am

My nero is awesome, and he says 10+. Only problem is that smaller tanks (such as E series) can't crank it out that fast. I have an M-60 tank that I carry in car that can get up to 12 on the meter(has the bubble rate indicator, not just a number on crank) and M-125 at home that goes up to 15, and I find that MY headaches go away quicker. Past history with smaller tanks show that I needed a much longer time to kill the cluster, and sometimes the cluster just blew past the O2 treatment(MY clusters don't respond to O2 if they get past 15 minutes in duration). With higher rates ALMOST always kill any cluster that I get to, including the beasts that wwake me at night.
Also make sure you get as big a tank as you can get...I went multiple years on E, until supplier mentioned there were bigger tanks. Difference in cost minimal(<2x), yet you were getting significant more O2(seems like 10x or more).
You mileage may vary. Wish you luck.