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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2003 >> Clusterheadaches & Anxiety
        
(Message started by: cathy on Sep 9^th, 2003, 3:18pm)

Title: Clusterheadaches & Anxiety
Post by cathy on Sep 9^th, 2003, 3:18pm

For Patients
Health Prose: A One-Minute Update for Your Health

Cluster Headaches: Do They Cause Anxiety Disorder?
University of Iowa Health Science Relations
Peer Review Status: Internally Peer Reviewed
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The intense pain of cluster headaches may not be the only worry for those patients suffering from them.
Patients with cluster headaches--severe headaches occurring in clusters of several months and then receding--have a higher rate of anxiety disorders during the time between clusters of headaches and show memory deficits during headache clusters, according to a recent University of Iowa Health Care study.

Ricardo Jorge, M.D., associate research scientist in the UI Department of Psychiatry and lead author of the study, said the impetus for the study was a previously identified link between migraines and depression and anxiety. Cluster headaches, similar to migraines in many ways, were thought to have a similar link, increasing the likelihood of patients getting mood and anxiety disorders.

"If cluster headaches occur frequently with anxiety, the headaches may cause the anxiety or the other way around," Jorge said. "It is important to know the relationship between them so that doctors may treat patients better."

Cluster headaches' intense pain lasts 15 minutes to an hour. This pain usually occurs over periods that last a few months. After this time with multiple and severe attacks, the headaches disappear for a long length of time and then begin again without warning.

The causes of cluster headaches are unknown, but some evidence suggests changes in blood flow in the brain and dysfunction in certain brain areas. The incidence of cluster headaches is low, and cluster headaches affect more men than women, at a ratio of as many as seven to one. These figures may be somewhat misleading; doctors are increasingly diagnosing cluster headaches in women, Jorge noted.

The association of cluster headaches and anxiety disorders may also be related to brain dysfunction, especially certain areas known to be involved in the development of mood and anxiety disorders, according to the researchers.

There is no universal treatment for cluster headaches, Jorge said, although many treatments may be divided into managing the headache attack or decreasing the number of attacks during a cluster. Oxygen is often used to alleviate the pain as it happens, while other medications, including lithium, are used to reduce the length of an episode.

While there may be a link between cluster headaches and anxiety disorders, more work should be done before attempting to decide how best to treat patients with both or who are likely to contract both, Jorge noted.

"We need a bigger sample and then we will try to replicate our findings. Then maybe we can see if any specific type of treatment or approach is needed for those patients with cluster headaches and anxiety disorders. We also need to further research the significance of the memory disturbance involved with these headaches," Jorge said.

Found this at.... http://www.vh.org/adult/patient/psychiatry/prose/clusterheadaches.html

Title: Re: Clusterheadaches & Anxiety
Post by 5-string on Sep 9^th, 2003, 3:46pm

Thanks Cathy,
I don't believe my mood triggers the attack. I think after being out of comission for many,many,many weeks because of the headaches tends to trigger bad moods and depression though. That's my un-funded conclusion. :)
Thanks for the info.
Mark.

Title: Re: Clusterheadaches & Anxiety
Post by vig on Sep 9^th, 2003, 4:13pm

I think the clusters bring the anxiety, not the other way around. my$.02.

Title: Re: Clusterheadaches & Anxiety
Post by Jewel on Sep 9^th, 2003, 4:26pm

It happens either way with me. ;) Thank God for Clonazepam! Hehe!

Title: Re: Clusterheadaches & Anxiety
Post by floridian on Sep 9^th, 2003, 8:47pm

Depression starting in my teens, panic/anxiety begining in my twenties, clusters since my thirties. Who says good things always come in threes??

Title: Re: Clusterheadaches & Anxiety
Post by Mahle421 on Sep 10^th, 2003, 3:02am

Great Research....... Nice Work

Title: Re: Clusterheadaches & Anxiety
Post by Smurf on Sep 10^th, 2003, 12:45pm

I agree that the CH causes the anxiety. When I'm not in CH, I'm very happy and mellow all on my own.

Title: Re: Clusterheadaches & Anxiety
Post by kbbogo1 on Sep 11^th, 2003, 1:03pm

Thank you for the research, Cathy!

Changes in my mood always happen a couple of weeks before a cycle for me and last to the end of a cycle. Depression/Anxiety/mood swings are a sure sign of a cycle about to begin. This time around, at the peak of my cycle, even had panic attacks - out of the blue and for no apparent reason. This was a first for me - weird. Anybody else have these? Nothing seemed to trigger the panic attacks, just all of a sudden feel like I can't catch my breath, heart races, throat is tight, and I feel desperate. I did not get this feeling during a cluster headache - just between headaches.

Kim B

Title: Re: Clusterheadaches & Anxiety
Post by godsjoy on Sep 11^th, 2003, 4:57pm

This is interesting.....A few years ago I had one of the worst cycles ever....and I went into a MAJOR depression....I'd venture to say "clinical depression" the following months after the clusters left....I felt just wrecked and hopeless....physically and in every other way....I basically "hit the wall"......But....I did get better....by hte grace of God....

Blessings,
Karen

Title: Re: Clusterheadaches & Anxiety
Post by wayner57 on Sep 12^th, 2003, 11:00am

on 09/10/03 at 12:45:15, Smurf wrote:

I agree that the CH causes the anxiety. When I'm not in CH, I'm very happy and mellow all on my own.

I have to agree, this describes me as well!

Title: Re: Clusterheadaches & Anxiety
Post by Karla on Sep 13^th, 2003, 10:00am

[color=Purple]Just a side note on anxiety. I was taking imitrix ns up to 4-6 times a day every day for aprox 2 years. I noticed I was having problems with severe anxiety attaks. It went from bad to worse. I went to a dr. about it and was finally perscribed some medicine to take for it after months of complaining. I got the perscription filled along with a new preventative. My ch stopped and so did my imitrix usage. But before I had a chance to start taking the antianxiety medicine I noticed my anxiety attacks had stopped completly. Coincindence? I looked on the imitrix list of side effects and anxiety is one of them. So be warned with the higher doses of imitrix it may come with a price. [color]

Title: Re: Clusterheadaches & Anxiety
Post by Prense on Sep 13^th, 2003, 10:13am

I do not feel that I have anxiety issues before or after. The memory deficits that I have experienced came from medications without a doubt.