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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2003 >> Switching to beta-blockers (propanolol)
        
(Message started by: Lampropeltis on Nov 13^th, 2003, 3:21pm)

Title: Switching to beta-blockers (propanolol)
Post by Lampropeltis on Nov 13^th, 2003, 3:21pm

Just wondering if anyone has any experience with the use of beta-blockers as a profalactic against cluster-headaches.

I have for the past year and a half been using a combination of verapimil and cafergot (both taken daily) to prevent my cluster headache attacks. However, I have recently begun getting them occasionally and after speaking with friends (in pharmacy school), doctors and pharmacists, I have come to the conclusion that there is an outside chance that my body may just be used to either the verapimil or the cafergot or both. Hence I am starting to get the ol clusters again. Since I already take the max dosage of Verapimil, my doctor and I felt that switching to beta-blockers for a while would be a good move. He also said I could go on taking the cafergot daily; however I have read in some books that the combo of beta-blockers and cafergot could have some bad side effects. So I am curious if anyone here has ever been on beta-blockers like Propanolol; both alone or in conjunction with anything else like cafergot. And if anyone has tried both beta and calcium channel blockers and noticed a difference. Thanks for any info. As you all might imagine, this has been a hellacious month. After not having a cluster attack for over a year, I had forgotten how painful these freaking things really are!

Peace

Title: Re: Switching to beta-blockers (propanolol)
Post by Tiannia on Nov 13^th, 2003, 3:49pm

I take Propanolol every night. This is all I take besides the imitrex table for abortives. Prior to me taking them, I got more HA each day, then I get now, but they are still the same intensity when I do get them. (Went from about 6 a day to about 3, 4 on a bad day) I hope it works for you.

Sorry it is not much help. :-/

Tiannia

Title: Re: Switching to beta-blockers (propanolol)
Post by LSUnut on Nov 13^th, 2003, 4:25pm

Same here, I switched from verapamil (bad side-effects) to propranolol a few months back and found that at 40mg/night the frequency was reduced but the severity remained the same. My doc uped my dosage to 60mg/night and that has significantly reduced the HA occurance, but nothing so far has kept the beast at bay when he really wants to play. I still have shadows constantly, as well. They just don't seem to develop into full blown CH's as much anymore. It has also been reported that propranolol can increase the serum levels of some of the triptans by up to 70% (longer duration and clearance) so be careful if it often takes you more than one dose to abort or ask your doctor what he/she thinks is appropriate. ;)

Title: Re: Switching to beta-blockers (propanolol)
Post by Prense on Nov 13^th, 2003, 7:14pm

There have been some folks here reporting a loss of effectivity with verapamil over time. I'm curious though, what is your doc's opinion of the max dosage of verapamil? The reason I ask is that my GP claims I am taking the max dosage at 480mg/day...that's not the max. Anyway, I had no luck with beta-blockers, but some here do. I have no idea with combining it with any other med.

Regards!
Chris

Title: Re: Switching to beta-blockers (propanolol)
Post by Paigelle on Nov 17^th, 2003, 9:35am

I took Inderal for 2 years and had wonderful results. I took 3 pills a day and had only a couple of break through CH throughout what would have been my regular cycle of them. My Dr changed my Inderal to 1 pill that was time released and it never worked again after that. My last treatment was prednisone and it worked immediately. I hadn't had a CH for almost 2 yrs until 11-13-03 @ 2:01am and then another @ 6:30am. I am trying the Melantonin now to see if that helps. If not, then I will try prednisone again in the next week, before I hit my episodic peak.

Title: Re: Switching to beta-blockers (propanolol)
Post by Marc on Nov 17^th, 2003, 9:56pm

This is interesting to me. For many years Beta Blockers have generally proven ineffective for Clusters, but often effective for Migraines.

Now, people are reporting success for Clusters - I'm not knocking it, but I can't help wonder what has changed?

Title: Re: Switching to beta-blockers (propanolol)
Post by Prense on Nov 17^th, 2003, 10:45pm

on 11/17/03 at 21:56:23, Marc wrote:

Pretty much the same as I was thinking...