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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2003 >> Stadol NS?
        
(Message started by: ClstrHeadSupport on Oct 23^rd, 2003, 2:53pm)

Title: Stadol NS?
Post by ClstrHeadSupport on Oct 23^rd, 2003, 2:53pm

Has anyone here tried Stadol Nasal Spray? It's the medication of choice for my fiancee. It is a narcotic and can be hard to come by. But it's the only thing that seems to work for him. It helps to prevent his headaches as well as aborting them when they come on. I wanted to put this out there for anyone looking for something that might help. And curious if there are many of you that use it. He's tried everything from imitrex to oxygen and nothing works quite like it.

Hope this helps. :)

Title: Re: Stadol NS?
Post by JDH on Oct 23^rd, 2003, 3:11pm

Thanks but no thanks, I've tried it once but never again.
My GP was grasping for straws a few years back so he had me try it. It was the worst thing I've tried yet for my CH's. I was so "out of it" and STILL had the CH going on.
Glad your fiance is getting relief though.

Jim

Title: Re: Stadol NS?
Post by Unsolved on Oct 23^rd, 2003, 3:14pm

Didn't help for me either....burnt my nose, gave me a buzz, and the whole time MY HEAD WAS POUNDING ! It really did suck. At least it's working for someone.
~ Unsolved ~

Title: Re: Stadol NS?
Post by ClstrHeadSupport on Oct 23^rd, 2003, 3:14pm

I tried it once, to see if it would get rid of my reg. headache, I was in "La-La Land" I couldn't think or even walk straight. I asked my fiancee how he functioned off of it, he said he just got used to it and when he's one it regulary he is totally normal. The only bad side effect I've noticed is that when he hasn't been on it for a long time, and then he takes it, he is really grouchie. It doesn't bother me because I know it's the medication but usually he won't even remember being the way he was the next day. But after a day or two of having it in his system he's normal again.

Title: Re: Stadol NS?
Post by KipBurbank on Oct 23^rd, 2003, 6:53pm

I took it also. My Doc gave me a sample bottle. I didn't know what to expect. I called my pharmacist who incorrectly told me it was nasal spray, like a decongestant.

Next frame: Out to dinner with friends, cluster coming on, nose clogging up, eye watering, I took 3 or 4 blast of StayStill (what I call it) and in 10 minutes I was flattened out. And,..it did not stop the pain at all, but I could not move about either.

Title: Re: Stadol NS?
Post by 9erfan on Oct 24^th, 2003, 4:46pm

Stadol was the WORST thing I ever tried. It had me so completely out of it, I thought I was dying. Then I got REALLY sick.

BE CAREFUL, Stadol is HIGHLY addictive!

Title: Re: Stadol NS?
Post by echo on Oct 24^th, 2003, 4:56pm

I have used Stadol for nearly 5 years to abort my CH. It does work for me, but it is very important to use it only when you are at the end of the rope. Other wise it will be a drug that will definately grab ahold of your life and make you dependant. I've been there!! It was extremely difficult to break the habit.

I dilute mine with distilled water to lessen the stone.

Title: Re: Stadol NS?
Post by ClstrHeadSupport on Oct 24^th, 2003, 5:00pm

That's strange that you were addicted. My fiancee's doctor told him it wasn't addicive. The only thing I have noticed is that once a while back he was on it a lot. They were giving him quite a few bottles a month and he was directed to take it several times a day. After that ended and he was completely off of it it seemed as though he was having withdrawl headaches. For all I know they could have been his normal clusters but it just seemed to be happening a lot. Then he went through a period where he didn't have them at all. He ended his cycle. Now they're coming back and it's even harder then before to get a hold of his medication. He's going to be making an appointment this week to go to a pain management clinic. Has anyone ever been to one of those? What's it like? What do they do?

Title: Re: Stadol NS?
Post by Mark C on Oct 24^th, 2003, 6:10pm

"STADOL®
Stadol® is an analgesic for moderate or severe pain. This formulation of butorphanol is administered every 3-4 hours either as a nasal spray or injected into the buttock or hip muscle or into a vein. Stadol® is typically prescribed for patients recovering from surgery or for migraine headaches and works by binding to the pain receptors in the brain. Since Stadol® became available in nasal spray form, abuse has increased, and more than 40 deaths have occurred. The FDA does not regulate Stadol® in most states. Butorphanol is believed to be highly addictive and if taken by a person already dependent on another narcotic, withdrawal symptoms may occur. Care must be taken to follow the doctor's instructions when taking Stadol®. Do not take a larger dose, or take it more frequently, or take it for longer than the doctor has prescribed."

Stadol is highly addictive and in my personal experience was completly ineffective in treating my CH, just my experience.

A Google search turns up many legal actions againt the makers of Stadol because of it's addictive nature. Look here (http://www.google.com/search?q=stadol&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&start=0&sa=N). If it works for you good, but most of us do not get positive results.

I think another issue woud be to seek another Doctor more informed about the dangers of this drug.....
on 10/24/03 at 17:00:21, ClstrHeadSupport wrote:

My fiancee's doctor told him it wasn't addicive.

sounds like dangerous advice to me.

For a list of proven meds for CH look here (http://www.clusterheadaches.org/medications.htm) and for more "non-traditional" avenues of relief look here (http://www.clusterheadaches.org/resources/non_script_treat.htm).

PFDAN's
Mark

Title: Re: Stadol NS?
Post by Bob_Johnson on Oct 24^th, 2003, 6:18pm

The discussion needs to shift topics.

What kind of doctor is using Stadol this way--so freely. What other kinds of meds have been tried to abort attacks; what used to prevent cluster.

From what I can see, the use of his type of pain med is an absolute last choice--not only because of the addictive potential but because they are not very effective compared to others meds.

Title: Re: Stadol NS?
Post by Prense on Oct 24^th, 2003, 6:22pm

Very good point Bob.

Title: Re: Stadol NS?
Post by Zonie on Oct 24^th, 2003, 9:15pm

I have used Stadol NS and I agree wholehartedly with Bob. It did relieve the pain, but it also knocked me to my knees and made me deathly sick to my stomach (thank goodness). I was at the end of my rope and unable to work. The doctor who prescribed it told me to just take my Stadol and oxygen and go back to work. There was no way that I could begin to drive myself to work. Needless to say that when I read up on Stadol, I also changed doctors. I had even learned to use one-half spray at a time and it was somewhat more tolerable, but I never used it as a preventive med.

Everyone is different and I'm glad that it works for your sufferer, but please tell him to be very careful.

Title: Re: Stadol NS?
Post by forgetfulnot on Oct 24^th, 2003, 10:36pm

This topic has been well covered. It seems to me that their are peeps that can't handle this drug, others can.

It can really help anyone in pain. If the drug works for U, use it, if not, don't.

I have used it, on and off for ten years, not addicted, don't really like the effects but it has saved me a bunch of $ in avoiding the ER when the Imitrex runs out. If you get real technical, it as not a narcotic.

NUff said. ;)

lee

Title: Re: Stadol NS?
Post by Unsolved on Oct 24^th, 2003, 10:44pm

Stadol only works for me at a dose of 2mg (or more) injected straight in a vein ! Anything short of that...is useless (for me). Stadol was once thought of as non-addicting and pretty easy to get. Not anymore.

Title: Re: Stadol NS?
Post by forgetfulnot on Oct 24^th, 2003, 10:51pm

Quote:

It seems to me that their are peeps that can't handle this drug, others can.

Thank you unsolved for reinforcing my statement.

::) Lee

Title: Re: Stadol NS?
Post by taraann on Oct 25^th, 2003, 1:38am

I first used staydol my last cycle last year because I was on other meds that couldn't be mixed with most of the well known effective CH meds and the meds that we could mix didn't work for me. The GP I am seeing right now has me on it again while I am waiting for my appt with the headache specialist in Jan. I keep asking him to try other things but he keeps putting me off and giving me the staydol......

It is slightly effective for my CH's, seem's to shorten my usually 3hr long CH to about half the time and makes me able to take a short nap after sometimes. (also I tend to sometimes "freak out" and get upset sometimes when I'm in bad pain but the times I take the staydol I stay calm) It doesn't screw me up like alot of ppl talk about except makes me slightly light headed and tired. I usually only take half a squirt tho and a couple times I have added water to the bottle to dilute it.

BUT it is HIGHLY addictive. The first time i used it (last year) the doc had instructed me to take a squirt up each nostril every 4 hrs and I did this on and off for about a month. When I didn't need the medicine anymore and stopped taking it I felt really YUCKY and I couldn't stop shaking. So I didn't mentally need the medicine anymore but physically my body seemed to "need" it.

Just my [smiley=twocents.gif]

Title: Re: Stadol NS?
Post by ClstrHeadSupport on Oct 27^th, 2003, 12:24pm

I appreciate all the advice and input on my post. And we are taking some of the advice as well. While the staydol doesn't effect him almost at all like it has effected some of you, and while it has been not only highly effective for his cluster headaches but also the only thing that works, I still want to look into other options. Most importantly I am concerned about it being addictive. We have been told not only by his regular physician, but by a few ER doctors as well, that it is NOT addictive. A little confused on the whole thing I plan on looking it up. Thank you all for your opnions, and shared expirences.

Title: Re: Stadol NS?
Post by Karla on Oct 27^th, 2003, 12:57pm

I took stadol for a couple of years as a backup when imitrix failed. I found I quickly built up a tollerance to it. I started out with one spray and in the end was needing 4 sprays to do the same thing. I found it to be effective and keep my but out of er several times. My husband hated me on the stuff tho my lips would turn purple and I would be out of it for a couple of hours. I am glad I don't need it now but was glad it was available for me as an option when I needed it.

Title: Re: Stadol NS?
Post by hdbngr on Oct 27^th, 2003, 3:11pm

I think maybe the ER doctors are thinking "not addictive" when used to treat pain a few times a month. maybe edging into some scary territory...with multiple bottles anyway. Not knowing his history and whether he is chronic or episodic, it is hard to say.

I asked my doctor for a bottle of it last week. Since 1997, I have used about 6 bottles of it, usually about one a year, and I only ask for this when I have hit rock bottom, 8-10 hits a day at 8-10 kip levels. After five doses, I max out, and then it no longer helps the pain, just makes me feel sick.

Stadol works very well on the pain for some, especially the first dose, but with each consecutive dose it takes more and more to achieve the same results. It's like your body becomes "immune" or builds up a tolerance or something. I know that if you fiance were to stop taking it for a few months, it would be more effective.

With a pain management clinic, probably the first thing they will want him to do is stop taking it. They may prescribe another medication to "wean" off the Stadol slowly, as it can cause some pretty icky rebound pain if you stop taking it suddenly. It will feel like his headaches get worse for about two weeks, then they may get better. If they don't get better after a month or so off of it, and other preventatives and abortives don't work for him, they might decide to add a pain medication as a route to go. Karla mentioned the Duragesic patch - it sticks on the chest of your body like a clear band aid, changed every 72 hours, and supplies a regular dose of narcotic pain medication round the clock.

Any pain medication that you stop taking, whether it's Stadol or Fentanyl or even over the counter medication, will make you feel like crap for about two weeks. Crabby may take on a whole new definition if he decides to quit using it.

Whatever happens, best of luck to you. I hope he finds an effective treatment.