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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2003 >> Verapamil - Temporary relief only
        
(Message started by: b.bop on Jul 2^nd, 2003, 10:27pm)

Title: Verapamil - Temporary relief only
Post by b.bop on Jul 2^nd, 2003, 10:27pm

Ive been taking 240mg slow release verapamil for about 6 weeks now and until the last few days have been pain free. But a few days back the headaches started up again and are progressively getting worse. Has this happened to anyone and do you know any remedies? Any feed back would be tops, and thanks for taking the time to read this :)

Title: Re: Verapamil - Temporary relief only
Post by cbolony on Jul 3^rd, 2003, 2:53am

bob when you go back to the dr or call him tell him to give you Verapamil ER not the slow release.Most of us here do not take the slow release.I myself take verapamil 240mgs 2xaday

Title: Re: Verapamil - Temporary relief only
Post by ave on Jul 3^rd, 2003, 4:44pm

Also, many here use much larger doses. Ask the doc if you can increase your dose slowly. Some here have gone up as far as 720 a day!

I myself stopped at 480 a day and soon decreased to 360 as the cycle wound down. The 240 was not enough for me.

Good luck

Title: Re: Verapamil - Temporary relief only
Post by bobm0001 on Jul 3^rd, 2003, 6:50pm

I am brand new to this board, and in fact, this is my first post. I am on my third cluster headache cycle and hadn't had one for four years. This is the first itme I realized there was anything more powerful than Ibuprofen that I could take. The doctor prescribed 120 mg of Verapamil (1/day, slow release) and it stopped the headaches for two and a half days. Since then the headaches have gotten progressively worse. Are you saying that, if I get the doctor to increase the dosage, I can eliminate the headaches altogether?

Title: Re: Verapamil - Temporary relief only
Post by brewcrew on Jul 3^rd, 2003, 9:36pm

on 07/03/03 at 18:50:28, bobm0001 wrote:

Are you saying that, if I get the doctor to increase the dosage, I can eliminate the headaches altogether?

Yes, bobm0001. Verapamil seems to be one of the most consistent preventatives used by the people on this board. However, most will tell you that your current dosage probably needs to be tripled or quadrupled in order to be effective. I don't know how much you weigh - I'm 185 and I take 480 mg/day.

Watch out for severe constipation. It's better than these headaches, however, because it can be counteracted painlessly.

Title: Re: Verapamil - Temporary relief only
Post by murazzio on Jul 4^th, 2003, 7:17pm

With such high doses Verapamil, how heavy are the side-effects, and can you for instance still drive or play ball?

thanks for any info and wish you all PFD&N

Title: Re: Verapamil - Temporary relief only
Post by brewcrew on Jul 4^th, 2003, 7:27pm

Absolutely, you can still drive and play ball. All I find is that 1. it is constipating, and 2. I seem to tire a little more easily than when I'm not taking it. Of course, age doesn't have anything to do with that. :D

Title: Re: Verapamil - Temporary relief only
Post by murazzio on Jul 4^th, 2003, 8:06pm

Hi Brew,

thanks for your answer! Can I ask what your dosage is and how long have you been taking it? And doesn't it cause any liver or kidney problems on the long run?

This may look a bit silly but as I haven't got a clue info will be geatly appreciated :)

PFD&N

Title: Re: Verapamil - Temporary relief only
Post by brewcrew on Jul 4^th, 2003, 8:20pm

Check my post above - 480 mg/day (240 in the morning, 240 in the evening). No long-term ill effects as far as I know - I've been on and off it for about 5 years (averaging more months on than off). You might want to check the medical info button at the left or do a Google search on Verapamil.

Best,

Bill

Title: Re: Verapamil - Temporary relief only
Post by murazzio on Jul 4^th, 2003, 8:35pm

Tnx Bill, sorry I missed your earlier post but am still abit groggy from the last shadow... ::)

PFD&N

Title: Re: Verapamil - Temporary relief only
Post by BillyJ. on Jul 4^th, 2003, 11:36pm

Hello,
For what its worth,I took 240mlg sr/day for a year
and then when going back into cycle increased by 180
mlg sr/day steps.After each increase I would get about
7 days PF then get hits again,at witch time I would
increase again.(your milage may vary)
I went all the way to 960 mlg sr/day (480 am &480
pm).after a couple weeks PF I start stepping it down,at
the same rate.
I am usualy plauged by side effects with most meds
but the only side effect I get from the verapamil is
constipation.
DO NOT do this without your doctors permision!!!
Not everyone can take that high dosage because of
blood presure and other problems.At very high doses
you should have an EKG regularly(ask your MD how
often)
It has also been reported that instant release is
more effective than slow release but I have never tried
it so I could not give an opinion about that.
PF wishes to all,
BillyJ
p.s. be sure to check this out http://www.maplefallswebdesign.com/misc/oxygen/oxygen.htm

Title: Re: Verapamil - Temporary relief only
Post by cbolony on Jul 5^th, 2003, 5:41am

I myself take verapamil 240mgs 2xaday combo with depakote 500 mgs 3x aday

Title: Re: Verapamil - Temporary relief only
Post by bobm0001 on Jul 5^th, 2003, 11:07am

Yes, bobm0001. Verapamil seems to be one of the most consistent preventatives used by the people on this board.

Thanks, Brewcrew. I have an appointment with my physician Tuesday and will make sure he knows about Verapamil. His PA prescribed the lower dosage initially, not knowing how it would affect me.

Title: Re: Verapamil - Temporary relief only
Post by brewcrew on Jul 5^th, 2003, 1:31pm

Good luck, bobm. Some folks have to take other preventatives along with the Verapamil, such as Depakote, Neurontin, or Lithium. Almost all of them take time to build up in the system, and thus you'll see many taking an initial high dose of Prednisone (60-80 mg/day) for a few days, then tapering down by around 10 mg/day until the preventatives kick in. Prednisone is the gold standard of anti-inflammatories, but the side-effects from long-term use can be ugly.

PFD&N.

Bill