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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2004 >> Side Effects from O2? 
        
(Message started by: drbb on Jan 28^th, 2004, 12:02am)

Title: Side Effects from O2?
Post by drbb on Jan 28^th, 2004, 12:02am

First cluster in three years and first time on O₂. It's a clear winner over the prednisone I had always taken, which was fine for a few days then made it hard to function well. Between clusters, 240 mg verapamil, upped to 480 for time being +o₂ as needed (about 4x per day at max, now down to 1-2x).

[BTW--tried Topamax 50mg for a few days this round, could barely get out of bed, gave up]

Am using 7 l/min w/mask, 10-15 minutes per headache. After about 6-7 minutes, one or more limbs tends to develop twitch and feel a bit cold. I have also developed a cough, possibly from dryness of O₂. Are either of these normal side effects of oxygen. Frankly, if my typical episodes average a 9.5 on a scale of 10, this one is about a 3 or 4 so I am really very happy with oxygen. I just want to make sure I'm not going to be sorry down the line. I will be talking to my new doctor (a headache specialist who--bless him--squeezes in the the clusterheads ASAP) on Friday, but if the oxygen may be problematic, I'll call sooner. Any experience with these (hopefully minor) problems?

Title: Re: Side Effects from O2?
Post by t_h_b on Jan 28^th, 2004, 7:47am

Oxygen can cause two types of "oxygen toxicity": CNS (Central Nervous System), which can result in twitching, and Pulmonary, which can result in cough. There are a lot of other symptoms that go along with these and oxygen toxicity is not usually seen in people using it like you do--usually it's in divers who breathe it for long periods of time under high pressure. You can Google these terms and get back plenty of information but I would question the applicability for someone using O2 like you do.

The cough could be, as you think, from the dryness, and you can get your O2 supplier to give you a "bubbler".

The twitching would worry me a bit, so call your headache specialist. You might also talk to a respiratory therapist or pulmonologist if you have access to one. You might even consider calling a hospital, asking for the respiratory therapy department, and seeing if you can get one to talk to you about it. Your O2 supplier probably has a respiratory therapist available to talk to you as well. The people at my supplier are quite knowledgeable about O2 therapy.

Good luck.

Title: Re: Side Effects from O2?
Post by Wifeofchman on Jan 28^th, 2004, 8:38am

What elevation do you live at?

Title: Re: Side Effects from O2?
Post by Wifeofchman on Jan 28^th, 2004, 8:39am

Also, do you smoke?

Title: Re: Side Effects from O2?
Post by drbb on Jan 28^th, 2004, 9:29am

t_h_b_: Thanks for the detailed information. I will speak to the RT at the O₂ supply shop when I refill on Friday. He's seemed pretty knowledgeable so far.

wifeofchman: I'm a non-smoker, non-drinker, living not too far above sea level, so I don't think these are issues.

I do take a variety of meds for things like cholesterol, BP control, and chronic sinusitis, so if simple things don't turn up a reasonable explanation for the twitching (and it may be serious), then I'll explore possible interactions with my doctor and/or pharmacist.

Thanks to all for the support. Hope to be headache free soon. Wishing all the same.

Title: Re: Side Effects from O2?
Post by 9erfan on Jan 28^th, 2004, 3:04pm

To get the most out of that oxygen, I would up that regulator to at least 10lpm.

Title: Re: Side Effects from O2?
Post by t_h_b on Jan 28^th, 2004, 5:03pm

Ditto on upping the rate, I would probably go to 15. But with your concerns you should wait. Maybe you could call your RT instead of waiting until Friday?

Please don't take offense at this next comment, I know this is a serious concern and was worried enough about you to check back on this thread, but if you have to find something to laugh at to cheer yourself up to keep from crying, you can watch your limb twitching. It's very interesting watching parts of your body do things on their own. Read up on how nerves and muscles work.

I had a twitching and spasming problem in my arm, hand and fingers and it was pretty cool to watch even though I had a lot of pain. Sometimes my little finger would bounce up and down extremely rapidly for hours at a time unless I held it down. (For some reason this didn't amuse other people as much as it amused me....)

Title: Re: Side Effects from O2?
Post by drbb on Jan 30^th, 2004, 1:44am

Well, the regulator only goes up to 8, but frankly 7 really seems to do it for me. No sense wasting money.

t_h_b: no offense taken. I've been accused of finding some pretty odd things funny so...go ahead, enjoy a good twitch. Anyway, it wakes my wife up, so if I can cool it, it would go a long way to having at least one rested parent n the household.

Thanks again, all, for the advice. Cluster seems to be weakening, so for the short term, the O₂ issue may become moot. Of course, there's always next time....