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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2004 >> Maxed Out
        
(Message started by: duck_soup on Feb 14^th, 2004, 6:13am)

Title: Maxed Out
Post by duck_soup on Feb 14^th, 2004, 6:13am

I'm at the worst part of the cycle where the CH comes every 8 hours and nothing works but the imitrex. I'm taking some time off work so that I can try to de-stress and get through with O2, but it doesn't seem to be working yet. Even the ones I wake up with I can't get rid of with O2 alone and wind up taking the shot. I've been on three prednisone tapers with the last one ending three days ago. It really didn't do me much good, either. I don't know what to do at this point, and I hate to keep dosing with the imitrex. Without the shots, I'm looking at 4-5 hours of hell. Maybe I have to go through one to get off this imitrex spiral.

Any suggestions?

Rick

Title: Re: Maxed Out
Post by t_h_b on Feb 14^th, 2004, 7:03am

One suggestion might be to use 1/2 or 1/3 of an injection. If you have auto injections you can use the "imitrex tip" link to the left. I have found that getting 5 shots out of two vials yields an effective dose that doesn't make me feel like I got injected with a systemic poison.

Title: Re: Maxed Out
Post by duck_soup on Feb 14^th, 2004, 9:17am

I was splitting the doses earlier, but only a whole shot works now.

Title: Re: Maxed Out
Post by Kevin_M on Feb 14^th, 2004, 9:34am

I'm doing a prednisone taper but with an increase in verap at the same time. I don't have much to say because I started this at the end of my cycle, which may be different, results-wise. Finding the right prevent is worth your time. I used excess imitrex and the cycle stayed around longer.

Kevin M

Title: Re: Maxed Out
Post by Artie on Feb 14^th, 2004, 10:02am

Have you tried Amerge? It is a triptan that works for 12 hours. It has helped my husband alot. What else are you on or have you tried?

Sorry you are going through this.

Artie

Title: Re: Maxed Out
Post by duck_soup on Feb 14^th, 2004, 10:31am

My neuro put me on verapamil in previous cycles, but it seemed to push the cycle longer. This time we're trying to go it on abortives alone. Up til last week, the O2 was catching about half the headaches, especially the ones at night where they just wake you up. However, I was out of town and away from my tank for a few days and I became dependent on the imitrex alone. Now that's all that works. I'm staying close to home and close to my tank for the next few days and I hope to get off this 2-3 shots per day regiment. For one thing, I can't afford it, and I'm sure it's not doing me any good. I'm just too much of a weenie to let the HA go all the way through

My wife is facing these for the first time and you can see her frustration at not being able to help me. Speaking of her, I'm off to the store to get her a V-Day present. She should get a medal as well.

Thanks for the help,

Rick

Title: Re: Maxed Out
Post by Bob_Johnson on Feb 14^th, 2004, 11:24am

With each Pred. taper, has the doc been increasing the starting dose?

Have you tried olanzapine to abort? Much cheaper than Imitrex and I've had 100% success.

Lithium as another option.