Clusterheadaches.com Message Board


    
      
        Clusterheadaches.com Message Board
        (http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi)
      

        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2003 >> DHE IV ????
        
(Message started by: BlueMeanie on Dec 11^th, 2003, 11:52pm)

Title: DHE IV ????
Post by BlueMeanie on Dec 11^th, 2003, 11:52pm

I remember years ago my Neuro was gonna put me in the hospitol for a couple of days to break my cycle. After reading posts on this site, I believe it was to try DHE IV injections. Has anyone out there ever went to the hospital for this treatment ? I want to give it a try next week, but know nothing about it.

Title: Re: DHE IV ????
Post by thomas on Dec 12^th, 2003, 9:10am

I didn't do the in-patient thing. I had it done in the er for about 20 min. a couple of years ago. It broke my cycle - what a beast killer.

Title: Re: DHE IV ????
Post by Paigelle on Dec 12^th, 2003, 9:12am

What is DHE?

Title: Re: DHE IV ????
Post by thomas on Dec 12^th, 2003, 9:18am

Beast-killer of the highest order - Dihydroergotamine.

Title: Re: DHE IV ????
Post by Paigelle on Dec 12^th, 2003, 9:27am

You gotta love a beast killer!

Title: Re: DHE IV ????
Post by chronic_chic on Dec 13^th, 2003, 2:59am

Hey there blue,
I have gone inpatient for DHE treatments 5 times, and I am going in for my 6th time at the end of this month. Actually, for me they do more than just DHE because I have new daily persistent headache.
I also use DHE intramuscular injections as an abortive for severe headaches. They usually work pretty well, though not when my headache is very very bad for a long time. My headache tends to get immune to all of its treatments. They work for a month or two and then no more.
DHE works off and on for me. In the hospital it wiill knock my headache down some, but then it would get stuck in the midrange of chronic daily headache for me, and I always wind up needing more intense treatment to break my headaches.
It does help me a lot when I'm feeling better and I use it as a normal abortive as injection though! Hey it's worth a shot! No pun intended ;) (Booooo I know...bad joke ::) )
~Lizzie :)

Title: Re: DHE IV ????
Post by Unsolved on Dec 13^th, 2003, 9:54am

I've had it a dozen times. It always works to stop the headaches for me...but only temporarly. The headaches usually return within a short period of time > but I still like the break from the beast.
I also use DHE IM injections at home. It's not as good as the Imitrex (in my opinion), but I don't have to use as much of it.
DHE makes me sick if I don't take Phenegren or something with it. Better ask for it. Also, make sure your IV site is a good one. DHE will damage your skin and hurt like a bitch if it leaks out of the vein.

Goodluck and hope it works for you

Unsolved

Title: Re: DHE IV ????
Post by chronic_chic on Dec 13^th, 2003, 10:10am

Hey Unsolved,
When you get it IV, is it pushed or hung in a bag? A lot of people in hosp or outpatient infusion clinic get their DHE pushed right into the IV, but I can't tolerate that because of all the nausea. I get reglan with my DHE, and I also get it hung in a bag where it is mixed with saline to dilute it so it is not so killer on me when it first goes in. This doesn't make it any less effective...just less nauseating. A lot of times I still get sick despite all these measure, though. :( I can't take phenergan IV because it blows my veins...bummer. But I usually start with reglan and then switch to zofran. Zofran works well a lot of times but often then I need some malox on top of my prilosec to help with the acid reflux SE from all the IV meds I get...don't know if DHE causes this or if it is other meds I get. I have never gotten JUST dhe IV by itself.
~Lizz :)

Title: Re: DHE IV ????
Post by chronic_chic on Dec 13^th, 2003, 10:11am

Title: Re: DHE IV ????
Post by Unsolved on Dec 13^th, 2003, 7:30pm

I get my DHE pushed into an IV every 8 hours. I used to work my way up to a full 1 mg dose but I can no longer handle that. (I'll get sick, no matter what) I now just get a 1/2 mg dose. It still works and reduces the nausea quite a bit ( although I still take a Phenegren 25 mg pill about 30 - 45 minutes before each DHE dose)
I finally got my own vials of DHE which I take IM daily. I still need the Phenegren too.
I've heard of some getting DHE diluted in a bag and dripped in, but i've never had it that way. Either way, you can't take it in an IV for very long...it will cause other problems. ( I know my knees, legs, ankles, and muscles in my legs were killing me after about 5 days of getting DHE. )
I still love to go to the hospital for a few days of DHE. It is a much deserved break from the beast.

Solu Medrol .. Solu Cortez (sp) also gives me a break from the HA's .. but also have their own list of side effects.

Unsolved

Title: Re: DHE IV ????
Post by chronic_chic on Dec 14^th, 2003, 1:58am

Hey Unsolved,
I am usually in hosp for about 2 weeks when I go in and they try a bunch of stuff including DHE for several days, salumedrol, depacon, droperidol, magnesium, and most recently this last time they did IV lidocaine. Oh they usually do IV thorazine. I forget what all else they do. You should ask for the DHE in a bag... maybe then you could get the full 1cc (mg). In the hosp, they do 1/2 at first, and if that doesn't help, then they do the other 1/2. Then 8 hours later they do a whole one. And they continue with 1cc every 8 hrs. I always get an anti-nausea when I get it in the hospital, but I do not use one when using the IM shots at home. I should though because it makes me really really nauseous! I will have to ask my neuro about that!
~Lizzie :)

Title: Re: DHE IV ????
Post by Unsolved on Dec 14^th, 2003, 8:34pm

I used to always ask for the DHE while in the hospital. Now, I'd almost prefer the steriods. They have alot of nasty side effects, but really...I don't care. I'd rather put on some weight. I just don't want to go through the next headache. :'(
Even at home, the DHE IM injections make me feel sick...but they'll prevent the next headache (if I take it everyday).
You said you usually go in for 2 weeks ... I just got out the other day. I spent 13 days in getting SoluMedrol then SoluCortez and DHE. The first night there, they couldn't get an IV started (no more veins left), so they had to call in "the pic line guy". It took him 4 hours to get there and a major headache started before he could get there. 3 nasal sprays of Stadol did NOTHING. Then...I finally got my 'pic line' so they gave me 2 mg of Stadol via IV...still...Nothing ... NO RELIEF ...
I would've gave my kingdom for an Imitrex injection !! ;;D

Unsolved

Title: Re: DHE IV ????
Post by Mikey on Dec 15^th, 2003, 3:40pm

I've done the DHE IV push, many times as an inpatient for a week at a time. Sometimes it helps, and sometimes it don't, but when it helps, it helps. I'm chronic with Chs and migraines.

I'll tell ya one thing though, like Unsolved said, you better ask for phenergan cause each and everytime i've had it, it made me sick as hell!! It's also really bad on your IV site too. Everytime i get it i go through all of the available sites, and end up with a PIC line put in.

I'm not trying to scare ya, just want you to be informed as everyone else here does.

Mikey, ;;D

Title: Re: DHE IV ????
Post by chronic_chic on Dec 15^th, 2003, 5:05pm

ok so yeah i attempted the picc line thing...and wound up with a picc line horror story!! when they put it in, the picc line wound up going up the carotid up my neck instead of down towards my heart....well that was just not a good thing!
so my neuro ordered a central line to be put in because i really couldn't get another IV. i waited all day for the central line without meds. i was in really bad pain, and they didn't come. finally at the end of the day this young neuro resident comes up and tells me that i'm not a high priority and that's why they're not coming. >:( gee, thanks.
i was getting fed up with the whole thing, so i asked her what would happen if i just went home with the picc line in since they still hadn't removed it, and it was 4th of july weekend, and i had gone all day without meds and wasn't getting any help. she told me if i went home, they would send the cops to my house to bring me back here because the picc line was dangerous. so why not take it out, i ask?? she says that she thinks she can put an IV in my foot no problem...oh great, my foot. so she attempts and after 5 minutes of not getting it..i finally yelled "OW!" she said, "oh i guess it wasn't as easy as i thought...." i wanted to kick her in the face...
this awesome nurse i had finally wound up putting in 2 IVs that blew within the next couple of hours, but at least i got meds for a little bit more. the day before i left, i went through 4 more IVs. that plus a few other mistakes made it the worst hospital stay i've had yet.
i would have complained more loudly, but i was an employee!! i wanted to keep my job. ;)

Unsolved, did you get any relief by the time you left??

~Lizzie :)

Title: Re: DHE IV ????
Post by BlueMeanie on Dec 15^th, 2003, 6:11pm

After reading these horror stories, I think i'm not gonna ask the doc when i see him on the 23rd. Thanks for the info. Maybe clusterbusters is a better idea.

Title: Re: DHE IV ????
Post by Unsolved on Dec 22^nd, 2003, 1:42pm

Don't let the 'horror stories' scare you. If you are in real pain and the beast won't leave you alone, DHE IV is worth a try. It may break the cycle or at least give you a few days break from the horrible headaches. I'm not sorry I tried it and will do it again.

I've been in the hospital for most of the past month getting DHE, SoluMedrol, and a bunch of other drugs. It's been the only way to get a little peace. Don't know how much longer I'll be able to keep this up though :(

Unsolved

Title: Re: DHE IV ????
Post by chronic_chic on Dec 22^nd, 2003, 6:06pm

I agree Blue...I'm starting yet another round of IV DHE on the 29th...decent to give it a shot even if it has a chance of helping! I always try again no matter how it goes!
~Lizzie :)

Title: Re: DHE IV ????
Post by Georgia on Dec 26^th, 2003, 3:25am

Just the mention of DHE makes my skin crawl....

here's what I went through after the in-patient treatment:

http://www.clusterheadaches.com/wwwboard/messages/89366.html

Peace and love,
Georgia

Title: Re: DHE IV ????
Post by Unsolved on Dec 26^th, 2003, 8:10pm

Quote:

I spent 5 days in the hospital getting an IV of DHE-45, and during those 5 days I was pain free. I truly appreciated the break.

;;D
How could that make your skin crawl ?

Unsolved