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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2003 >> Any suggestions....PLEASE
        
(Message started by: Tiege on Jul 19^th, 2003, 12:15pm)

Title: Any suggestions....PLEASE
Post by Tiege on Jul 19^th, 2003, 12:15pm

I've had Clusterheadaches for about 5 years. Each year they seem to get more painful and more frequent. I've been taking Imitrex which only works some of the time and can take up to an hour before I feel any relief. My doctor put me on Verapramil 240 mg 3 times a day. I thought this was working but apparantly not. Now I'm getting 2-3 CHs a day and they are the most painful ever and it's been going on for 5 weeks. I can tolerate a lot of pain, but I'd rather break my ankle again, the pain wasn't as bad as the CH and I wasn't reduced to uncontrollable crying and walking around in circles with my eyes closed. I've tried Zomig but it didn't do much. My insurance company won't approve oxygen. I have an appointment with my doctor on Monday. Does anyone have any advise as to what I should ask the doctor about? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Title: Re: Any suggestions....PLEASE
Post by forgetfulnot on Jul 19^th, 2003, 12:45pm

Go over to the medications tab left, then print out the results of the survey. It seems that every clusterhead is different in responding to various meds. This would be a good place to start with your Dr. There is also some good med info on OUCH,s website.

Good luck!, Lee

Title: Re: Any suggestions....PLEASE
Post by brewcrew on Jul 19^th, 2003, 1:24pm

You may also want to investigate the cost of oxygen without the aid of insurance. It may be cheaper than you think.

Regardless, here's wishing you many pain-free days and nights. Lots of folks here have you in their thoughts and prayers.

Bill

Title: Re: Any suggestions....PLEASE
Post by Bob_Johnson on Jul 19^th, 2003, 3:27pm

It often takes Verap. several weeks before it becomes effective: you didn't mention when you started.

Unusual for Imitrex to not work--sorry. Print out this message and give to your doctor. I've had excellent results with this med.
-----
1: Headache 2001 Sep;41(8):813-6

Olanzapine as an Abortive Agent for Cluster Headache.

Rozen TD.

Department of Neurology, Jefferson Headache Center/Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, Pa.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate olanzapine as a cluster headache abortive agent in an open-label trial. BACKGROUND: Cluster headache is the most painful headache syndrome known. There are very few recognized abortive therapies for cluster headache and fewer for patients who have contraindications to vasoconstrictive drugs. METHODS: Olanzapine was given as an abortive agent to five patients with cluster headache in an open-label trial. The initial olanzapine dose was 5 mg, and the dose was increased to 10 mg if there was no pain relief. The dosage was decreased to 2.5 mg if the 5-mg dose was effective but caused adverse effects. To be included in the study, each patient had to treat at least two attacks with either an effective dose or the highest tolerated dose. RESULTS: Five patients completed the investigation (four men, one woman; four with chronic cluster, one with episodic cluster). Olanzapine reduced cluster pain by at least 80% in four of five patients, and two patients became headache-free after taking the drug. Olanzapine typically alleviated pain within 20 minutes after oral dosing and treatment response was consistent across multiple treated attacks. The only adverse event was sleepiness. CONCLUSIONS: Olanzapine appears to be a good abortive agent for cluster headache. It alleviates pain quickly and has a consistent response across multiple treated attacks. It appears to work in both episodic and chronic cluster headache.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Olanzapine has a brand name of "Zyprexa" and is a antipsychotic. Don't be put off by this primary usage. Several of the drugs used to treat CH are cross over applications, that is, drugs approved by the FDA for one purpose which are found to be effective with unrelated conditions--BJ.

Title: Re: Any suggestions....PLEASE
Post by Kenzie60 on Jul 19^th, 2003, 4:28pm

I have been using Olanzapine "Zyprexa" since the beiginning of May. I am a patient at Thomas Jefferson Headache Clinic. This medication works. I also keep a supply of DHE injections on hand, but I haven't had to use it, the Zyprexa always aborts the headache. The only side effect I have noticed is that it makes you really tired.

Roseanne

Title: Re: Any suggestions....PLEASE
Post by smfaison on Jul 19^th, 2003, 6:08pm

Tiege,

Too bad about the episode that you are now in. I am taking 180 mg of Verapamil twice a day. I am also taking 1000 mg of Depakote. I was taking 40 mg of Prednisone and was experiencing more than 1 CH a day. Then my neuro put me on Bellaspas. I think it is also known as Bellergel. Basically it is ergotamine and phenobarbitol. My headaches stopped completely, except for 1 horrible one I had right after mowing the yard in the hot sun. In the next day or so I will be completely off the Prednisone and have stayed PF for 2 weeks. Hope this helps:)

Title: Re: Any suggestions....PLEASE
Post by jmorgan52 on Jul 21^st, 2003, 8:53am

Tiege

are you taking the imitrex injections? they always work in 10 minutes for me. The pills and nasal spray are useless for me. when they do sort of work it can take an hour easily.

John