Clusterheadaches.com Message Board


    
      
        Clusterheadaches.com Message Board
        (http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi)
      

        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2003 >> if this dosent work....
        
(Message started by: kimmyv1966 on Jun 2^nd, 2003, 7:28am)

Title: if this dosent work....
Post by kimmyv1966 on Jun 2^nd, 2003, 7:28am

Hi all.

Just looking for some feedback from someone.

Doc started me on Verapamil 120mg 1xday last Tuesday.(I know this is peanuts compared to what some of you are taking). Until then, I had been managing ch's with only Zomig 5mg for each ch, which I had been eating like candy.

Since starting on Tuesday, I have had many shadows, many mild ch's reaching about a kip 3 or 4. Only one had reached about a kip 5 on Friday night, after I decided to test medication with 2 beers. Needless to say, got nervous and popped a zomig which killed it.

My concern ... constant pressure in my head since starting Verap...kinda like a sinus headache and very shaky, like I am having DT's. Feels like my brain is gunna burst! Anyone on Verapamil experience this? I probably should note that doc also put me on Prozac at the same time.

Although I feel like I am definately getting some relief already, I really hate the fact that I have to be on daily meds...but, I figured since I was popping so many Zomig per week, what would be the difference?

If this treatment dosen't work, all you shroomers can expect alot of questions from me, because that will be my next chosen therapy. I have been watching this board for a long time, and have hemmed and hawed about growing shrooms (I am definately not a cultavist, as I regularly kill household plants), but feel this is definately my next course of action.

I also want to thank everyone on this website, as I have learned so much from all of you in the past year or two. You guys have really done so much for me, and you don't even know it.... again, Thanks 2 everyone.

Kim

Title: Re: if this dosent work....
Post by Roxy on Jun 2^nd, 2003, 5:23pm

Hi Kim,

The dose of verap is very low for clusters. My doctor started me out on 360 day day, then I upped it to 540 daily, and just today I upped it again to 720. I don't think the constant pressure in your head is due to the verap, but I have been known to be wrong..... ;D All I can say is that it did not affect me that way. Tiredness....yes. I don't know about the side effects of Prozac.

Everyone here hates to be on daily meds. Unfortunately, that's the nature of the beast. Have you tried 02? If I was you, I would look into the 02, rather than pop so many Zomigs. Here's the link:

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

Read up on it, and then print the information and take it to your doctor.

Good luck,
Tracey

Title: Re: if this dosent work....
Post by eyes_afire on Jun 2^nd, 2003, 6:10pm

Hi Kim. If I understand this right, you started Verapamil and Prozac simultaneously? If I was a gambling man, I would bet that your side effects are more likely due to Prozac. I've taken Paxil, Zoloft, and Serzone (all very similar to Prozac... they are SSRI's), and they never did anything good for me. But I don't know your situation. Don't stop the Prozac without talking to your doc and don't stop cold turkey.

Does your doc also know how much Zomig you take? Some docs are very reluctant about prescribing SSRIs in combination with triptans because the the rare but serious complication of Serotonin Shock. You need to be straight with your doc about how much Zomig you take.

I don't know, maybe I'm over-reacting, but I am biased against SSRIs because of my horrible nightmarish experience with them.

--- Steve, one of many...

Title: Re: if this dosent work....
Post by kimmyv1966 on Jun 2^nd, 2003, 6:27pm

Tracy,

Thanks for your advise about O2. I will discuss it with my doc on next visit.

Steve,

I was honest with the doc about how many zomig i was popping, this is why we made the verapamil decision.
The Prozac is obviously for depression coupled with some major "want to kill someone" PMS.

My Ch's were before starting Verap...very mild daytime low kips and shawdows, then wham...9pm..k-10 or wake-me-up 2am, k-10.

Since starting Verap last Tuesday, I have only taken 1 zomig last Friday...this is a big drop for me on the Zomig and I am ecstatic...hoping its not just a coincidence, since it is too early to really tell. I am keeping my fingers crossed.

But thank you for letting me know your concerns on mixing the two meds. I will also discuss this with doc as I am now concerned too.

I am curious on your horror story. I have never been on anti-depressive meds. Anything I should look out for or be concerned with?

Kim

Title: Re: if this dosent work....
Post by eyes_afire on Jun 2^nd, 2003, 7:05pm

Hi Kim.
SSRI's have been discussed alot around here. I don't want to rehash my horror story here in full detail. I feel stupid now because I can't get this link to work... check out the post started on Nov 27, 2002 'Now 3 cases OK with paroxetine'.

Read with caution. Read with the understanding that it is not a common reaction (but there are many others who have had it). Read with the understanding that due to my experience, I am justly or unjustly biased with my opinion. My experience was bad enough that it evokes an emotional response in me.

I understand that it is a very good medication for certain conditions. But I also understand that I was misdiagnosed and had hell to pay because my doc didn't know what CH was. I don't want to be alarmist, but I want to make sure people understand what kind of stuff they are taking.

Whether legal or illegal.... Know thy drugs.

--- Steve, one of many...