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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2004 >> CH Relief
        
(Message started by: ronschade on Feb 25^th, 2004, 10:49pm)

Title: CH Relief
Post by ronschade on Feb 25^th, 2004, 10:49pm

I have been suffering terribly from Cluster Headaches for 6 months. 4 to 6 of them a day. One thing I noticed was that any type of anxiety brought them on when I was awake at least. My wife who suffers anxiety attacks takes CLONAZEPAM for anxiety attacks. I started taking one Clonazepam, and one Tylenol 3 once in the morning, and once in the evening and have not had a headache in 6 days. I told my doctor about it and he gave me the prescriptions for both. My guess is that the vasular excitment that causes some types of cluster headaches is being subdued by this anxiety medicine. This treatment is not in any of the articles that I have read but it may be worth a try for others. I went from several severe headaches a day to not having even the slighest cluster symptoms. If you give it a try please let me know if it works for you also.........Thank you.

Title: Re: CH Relief
Post by J.ten_Dam on Feb 26^th, 2004, 3:27am

ronschade ;;D I am glad you have some relief. Keep us informed how it gos firther.

Title: Re: CH Relief
Post by henzey on Feb 26^th, 2004, 8:42am

I also would love to know how this works since I once took Clonazepam for anxiety. The only downside to this is that it is VERY addictive medication...that's why it is a controlled substance. It took me about 8 weeks to slowly get off of the drug and I do mean slowly...so just keep that in mind. But very glad it seems to help! Keep us posted if it keeps working. ;;D

Title: Re: CH Relief
Post by Prense on Feb 26^th, 2004, 8:11pm

on 02/26/04 at 18:16:21, maxharlow wrote:

My cycle/bout last for 3month 24hrs per day and occur every 5yrs +/-. Since this duration is too long for accepted treatments, my doctor pointed me in the right direction. I use a combination of clonazapam and esgic. both can be issued in very close to needed doses for 4 attachs per day/nite.

Hrmmmmm....

Title: Re: CH Relief
Post by JoeKen on Mar 1^st, 2004, 4:46pm

:)
Hi all.
If it is of interest to anyone, I have just been put on Prozac to counter anxiety/depression and my cycle appears to be tailing off before it has got started. I have been free of CH for nearly 4 days now which is unusual at this time in the cycle. If this is due to the Prozac it may help you guys as my GP says that Prozac is easier to come off than other anti-depressants.
JoeKen.

Title: Re: CH Relief
Post by FZfan on Mar 1^st, 2004, 6:45pm

hmmm, I'm having a similar experience with the anti-depressant Lexpro. I was three days into my cycle, and the ha stopped the next day, which was last friday. My cycles normally run 3-4 weeks. Have had a few shadows since friday and had a k6 wake me up at 1:00a last nite. O2 killed it in about 10 min. Maybe the cycle is being interrupted? dunno, the experiment continues...

Title: Re: CH Relief
Post by Kevin_M on Mar 1^st, 2004, 7:49pm

My doc formerly prescribed as a preventative pamelor, which is a nortriptyline. I've read on the patient prescription information which comes with it that it can be used as an anti-depressant. I didn't get any results so he kept increasing it. When I took it during the early part of the cycle, there was little help, I still got no sleep. When the cycle gained momentum they seemed useless. I took them but frequency and intensity of attacks were unabated. Basically they were useless when I needed them most. I tapered off of them and discontinued.
If they are helping presently, that is good. Keep
imitrex around though. It depends on how long that
can be effective for you through the whole cycle. There are other preventives, if this cycle decides to break through an anti-depressant preventative, you may find yourself undergunned with the tylenol threes. If things turn sour, check the medications on the left.
The frequency and intensity of clusters when their showing their teeth make the taking of painkillers too often an occurance and then in higher doses with less
affect. Should your combination seem inappropriate, there are other meds.
Due to the fact this combo seems to have halted a
long six month bout, which is very long if episodic, right now anyone would feel content. Remember, when the cycle ends, or if you are pain free, the pain killers should no longer be needed, they are not a preventative. Being episodic and this cycle has lasted six months, the painkiller may in fact be prolonging it.

Hope you stay PF

Kevin M