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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2004 >> Verapamil feedback PLEASE!!!!!
        
(Message started by: broomhilda on Feb 8^th, 2004, 6:49pm)

Title: Verapamil feedback PLEASE!!!!!
Post by broomhilda on Feb 8^th, 2004, 6:49pm

Hi everyone, I really need your input and feedback please, if you can! ;;D As seen in one of my posts I had a bad neuro experience and will be back to my gp requesting another opinion. In the meantime my gp will be treating me and has never treated clusters with verap before but put me on 240 at my request, care of all your feedback before and research, thanks! It seems to be working but not enough, clearly clustering away, can you suggest for me how much higher I need to go from here while I wait for another neuro?360? 420? any input would be fantastic!!!!!!!!( will be asking for O2, he will give me that!) Thanks everyone so much! :)

Title: Re: Verapamil feedback PLEASE!!!!!
Post by Artie on Feb 8^th, 2004, 7:21pm

some people go as high as 960 mg, BUT not everyone can do that, so it should be done under the supervision of a doctor. good luck. artie

Title: Re: Verapamil feedback PLEASE!!!!!
Post by Racer1_NC on Feb 8^th, 2004, 7:26pm

I'm on 240mg twice daily......as per doctor's instruction. Works fairly well for me....common side affects aside.

Bill

Title: Re: Verapamil feedback PLEASE!!!!!
Post by ave on Feb 8^th, 2004, 7:30pm

Hilda, Vera usually needs some days to kick in, (for many clusterheads anyway) so give it a few days time before upping your dose!

Also, you will need patience again when you up your dose.

Can't you get O2 to catch them when they break through? Worked for me.

Title: Re: Verapamil feedback PLEASE!!!!!
Post by Giovanni on Feb 8^th, 2004, 7:46pm

During cycle time I'm on 360 and 240 otherwise. Next time around I'm going to 480. I did notice a difference at 360 and it seemed to help. Like the others said it is not overnight and takes some time to work.

In the meantime, have you tried imitrex injections? Also, O2 in the configuration to your left? Hope you have relief soon.

pf
John

Title: Re: Verapamil feedback PLEASE!!!!!
Post by t_h_b on Feb 8^th, 2004, 8:56pm

240mg SR twice a day, 480mg total, it does take a while to kick in.

Title: Re: Verapamil feedback PLEASE!!!!!
Post by 5-string on Feb 8^th, 2004, 11:08pm

I did 240mg Twice a day for awhile(double my prescription). It worked. It took a 7-10 days but it worked.
...Mark..

Title: Re: Verapamil feedback PLEASE!!!!!
Post by beepbeep on Feb 9^th, 2004, 11:03pm

I'm a chronic and I am on 240mg and it doesn't work. Been giving some time about 3 weeks now.

Title: Re: Verapamil feedback PLEASE!!!!!
Post by violet on Feb 10^th, 2004, 12:33am

I've been taking 240 SR twice a day, and that seems to help alot.
Vi

Title: Re: Verapamil feedback PLEASE!!!!!
Post by broomhilda on Feb 10^th, 2004, 2:19am

thanks everyone, any more input would be great.. off to gp in am... 240 seems to be not enough still clustering...till I get to a new neuro just going by all of you ;;D

Will ask for 360 may be more???? I know patience.. but its hard!!!!!!!!!!!!240 now for thirteen days and a bit better but still going!!! tapering off the dopemax though-yuk :P

Title: Re: Verapamil feedback PLEASE!!!!!
Post by BillyJ. on Feb 10^th, 2004, 6:42am

quoted from
The Michigan Head·Pain & Neurological Institute (MHNI),

Verapamil is a first-line treatment for prevention of cluster headache, although weeks of therapy may be required before control is established. Verapamil must be administered at relatively high dosages to be effective (120-160 mg t.i.d.-q.i.d). Short-acting forms of verapamil are generally more reliable than long-acting forms due to variations in bioavailability. Thus, long-acting forms often require upward adjustment of dosage.

The amount is case sensitive,The amount I take 960mlg/day ER
would probably kill many of us.Blood Presure must be monotored durring doseage increases

Title: Re: Verapamil feedback PLEASE!!!!!
Post by mouka on Feb 10^th, 2004, 9:09am

Hi, i have the chronich CH since 4,5 years now.
Taking Ver. over 2 years now. Started off with 2 times 80 mg normal. NOw I'm on 360mg retard a day, the retard seems to work better than the normal Ver. It takes indeed some time to kick in, about a week.
Bad side affect is the pain in joints! But anything is better than the CH!
Good luck. ;)

Greets Mouka

Title: Re: Verapamil feedback PLEASE!!!!!
Post by pokemom on Feb 11^th, 2004, 1:43pm

Hi,
I just started the varapamil 80 mg on the 4th of Feb. I only take the 80 mg a day and I also started on my predisone 3 for 3 days 2,for3,1,for 3 and 1/2 until finished with Rx. So far I have stopped the every day 3 and 4 times a day CH. I have had a few alarm clock Ch's but getting up and moving around ward them off and a strong cup of Joe.(coffee). If someone has some input on my reply I would greatly appreciate it. If I am doing ok on the 80 mg should I start trying more later or just leave well enough alone. HMMMMMMMMMM!
Thanks a bunch. ::) and good luck with your med....

Title: Re: Verapamil feedback PLEASE!!!!!
Post by broomhilda on Feb 11^th, 2004, 5:47pm

Thanks for all your feedback it seems everyone has their own levels of what works in terms of dose, ;;D I am going up to 360mgs today and hope that will do it for me, will keep you all posted the problem is patience and waiting the 10 to 14 days for it to work! Still working on the O2 got the injections to help when its bad! Thanks for all your feedback and thankfully my gp has been good so far and am waiting to see another neuro!!!!!! Will keep you posted and any more feedback would be great!!!!!!
Pokemom, hope someone responds soon to help you out, take care!

Title: Re: Verapamil feedback PLEASE!!!!!
Post by Prense on Feb 11^th, 2004, 7:13pm

on 02/11/04 at 17:47:29, broomhilda wrote:

got the injections to help when its bad!

Any attack is bad! I'm a stabbin mo fo! ;;D

Title: Re: Verapamil feedback PLEASE!!!!!
Post by Kevin_M on Feb 11^th, 2004, 8:30pm

Hildy,

I just started at a headache institute which opened near hear after my doc wasn't doing enough I felt.
Now mind you, I decided to go because this cycle was lasting way to long, but it was on the way out, it was past it's peak but still a pesky bugger.
First appointment, a descending schedule of prednisone with an increasing schedule of verap. She started me at 120mg first week, 240 second, and then 360 third week. The prednisone descends and ends just before the 360 starts.
Now, this is with the cycle taking leave. So apparently the 360 is for the interim, not in cycle. When they come back, I have O2 for at home and imitrex nasal for work. If the verap perhaps needs to be upped at that time, then 480 may be the call, but I don't know yet.
So, if you are in cycle, well all I can say is I'm taking 360 out of cycle. Everyone is different, but I think you have correctly acknowledged you may be somewhat under prescribed.
Good luck and best to you.

Kevin M

Title: Re: Verapamil feedback PLEASE!!!!!
Post by Cooked Brain on Feb 12^th, 2004, 2:07pm

360 SR did it for me, took a little more than two weeks to figure that out, Prednisone was scheduled next, luckliy not...