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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2003 >> continuing Verapamil after cycle
        
(Message started by: lbenson on Aug 15^th, 2003, 1:01am)

Title: continuing Verapamil after cycle
Post by lbenson on Aug 15^th, 2003, 1:01am

My husband, a sufferer of ch for 25 years, has had success with verapamil. Twice his cycle was quickly aborted using it. During the last cycle, the headaches were much less severe and frequent, but the cycle lasted 3 months (no headache for two weeks so we think that he has ended cycle). He was able to manage well with oxygen. He is currently on blood pressure medication, and the additional usage of verapamil has kept his blood pressure at a perfect number. He would love to stay on verapamil (120mg twice a day), but he is afraid that it won't work when he needs it next time if he always takes it. Does one build up a resistence to the drug? Does anyone have any experience/advice for him? Thanks so much. Laura

Title: Re: continuing Verapamil after cycle
Post by Bob_Johnson on Aug 15^th, 2003, 9:07am

I've never seen a medical report about tolerance to Verap with use. In fact, I know of one of the leading headache docs in the U.S. who has some of his cluster patients on it continuously for years even when they have not had an attack during that time.

That your husband is obtaining a secondary benefit--BP--is a blessing since it's a med without troublesome side effects when compared to others used for that purpose.

Title: Re: continuing Verapamil after cycle
Post by kbbogo1 on Aug 15^th, 2003, 9:14am

I don't believe this is the type of med you can build up a resistance to because it is also used as a heart med. I have been taking it for a year and a half non-stop for my eposodic clusters and as a migraine preventitive. No diminishing results for me. I still get the clusters and migraines - just not NEARLY as painful or frequent. The month my cluster cycle begins changes every once in a while, so staying on the Verapamil full time keeps me ahead of the game. That way, I don't have to build it up in my system all over again before it starts working on an unpredicted cycle.

Good Luck,
Kim B

Title: Re: continuing Verapamil after cycle
Post by NewHeadPLZ on Aug 15^th, 2003, 2:44pm

Another advantage to staying on Verap when your out of a cycle is that Verapamil does take a while to build in your system..... ::)

Title: Re: continuing Verapamil after cycle
Post by Major_Headcase on Aug 19^th, 2003, 9:20am

I am currently between cycles and my doctor has also kept me on Verapamil (240mg SR/day) for my BP. During my last cycle I got up to 720mg/day and then tapered down to 240/day as the cycle passed. I also took Prednisone during the first 4 weeks of that cycle.

If my next cycle comes as usual, I should get hit around Dec-Jan. I sincerely hope that there is no diminishment of Verapamil's effect ... Bob and Kim's posts give me/us hope! :)

-John

Title: Re: continuing Verapamil after cycle
Post by Bob_Bogart on Aug 20^th, 2003, 9:31am

I have taken verapamil all year long (with limited success) for the past 10 years and found it to be the only medicine where I have not seen any resitance build up.

Title: going steady
Post by rumplestiltskin on Aug 20^th, 2003, 10:10pm

720/day. I ramped up to that as any pain showed through...I was almost PF for 2 years.

Recently my CH went full blown. Doc said resistance to VERA was not an issue. He added Neurontin. I'm at 1 to 3 minor attacks a day which I kill with O2...butt I'm not satisfied....I know what it's like to have them managed well and strive to find that place again.

Some respectable folks here over the years have touted the value in only dating VERA when in cycle. I was so PF...I never saw a "cycle"!

So....Given my present state of affairs...I am considering a Vera/neurontin holiday. I say that with much trepidation....the thought of CH running wild at 6 or 7 a day at Kip 8-10 scares the shit outta me. But I have ulterior motives. Sometimes we have to take leaps of faith in our experimentation with ourselves.

Our varied individual responce and reaction to CH meds makes this and other "sound advice" a hard call.

Good grief
den

Title: Re: continuing Verapamil after cycle
Post by iJun G4 on Aug 22^nd, 2003, 9:58am

I have to disagree with some of this.

First of all, I don't think verapamil can actually abort a cycle. Try quitting taking the verapamil, and the beast will come back (assuming "scheduled" cycle has not yet ended). That's not called aborting; that's just preventative.

Also, based on my own experience, I've become increasingly resistant to verapamil. 180mg/day used to work completely for preventing attacks. Next cycle, I had to double/triple the dosage. This cycle, I was at 3-4x 180mg per day and it *still* did not necessarily prevent full-blown attacks. I know I'm not the only one to experience this, or verapamil would have become the end-all solution to CH by now.

Title: Re: continuing Verapamil after cycle
Post by Prense on Aug 22^nd, 2003, 9:07pm

on 08/22/03 at 09:58:55, iJun G4 wrote:

I know I'm not the only one to experience this, or verapamil would have become the end-all solution to CH by now.

Vera is not the "be all, end all" solution because it simply does not work for some people. That can be said for all current preventatives for CH.