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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2004 >> Re: New Medications
        
(Message started by: Melissa on Mar 16^th, 2004, 9:16pm)

Title: Re: New Medications
Post by Melissa on Mar 16^th, 2004, 9:16pm

Hi Freddy,

The only thing I can suggest for you to do, like I did, is print out the list of medications from the OUCH site. I'm not sure of the last time it was updated as Frova (a newer triptan) is not listed.

http://www.clusterheadaches.org/medications.htm

:)mel

Title: Re: New Medications
Post by Renee on Mar 21^st, 2004, 9:39am

Here's a couple:

Zonegran
Gabatril

I started the zonegran 2 days ago thus just on stage 1 of ramping up but no side effects except some a.m. drowsiness. I've been able to sleep thru the night BOTH nights thus far!

good luck
renee

Title: Re: New Medications
Post by Liz04 on Mar 21^st, 2004, 3:54pm

Hi there,

I was just diagnosed last week. My doctor stating that he is trying to stop me from entering a cycle. He started me in Topomax 25mg for two days. Then uped it 25 every two days. I am now at 100mgs. I take Zomig nasal spray as needed for headache, which is about once a day. And trigger point injections once a week.

Hope this helps

Liz

Title: Re: New Medications
Post by UN_SOLVED on Mar 21^st, 2004, 4:40pm

Although I couldn't handle it and got sick, some HA clinics are starting to use Clomid for the prevention of clusters. It's still kinna experimental and most insurances companies won't pay for it.
Also, those who respond well to steriod therapies (Prednisone, Medrol dosepaks, SoluMedrol, etc) may benefit from Cell Cept. I just started this drug and don't know if it's going to work or not yet.
Some use these drugs: Lithium, Topomax, Keppra, Neurotin, DHE (IM or IV), Meletonin, Baclofin, Remeron, Zyprexa, IV Droperidol. I've used more than these, but this is all I can remember at the moment.
Hope this helps,
Unsolved

Title: Re: New Medications
Post by t_h_b on Mar 21^st, 2004, 8:40pm

HypnoFreddy, have you tried melatonin?

With your history of circadian rythm disturbances it might do the trick for you.

Talk to MD writing most of your prescriptions. You might start small at 0.5mg regular release and work your way up to 12mg or so in 0.5 mg increments and hope to hit the right dose.

Title: Re: New Medications
Post by UN_SOLVED on Mar 21^st, 2004, 9:03pm

Meletonin is OTC and perhaps helped me to sleep a few nights. But after awhile, I quit taking it too. I hate to take any drugs that are not helping.

Unsolved

PS..I started out a 9mg and increased it to 12mg.

Title: Re: New Medications
Post by Rock_Lobster on Mar 21^st, 2004, 10:02pm

Freddy... ask for the vials. The vials... the vials... I have been doing them for two weeks.

My insurance will pay for 16 vials or 16 stat dose pens a month. CH sufferers respond to injectable I-Trex better than MeeGrainErs.

Here is my experience over the past two weeks:
.100ML - No real effect. Something happens, but not the I-Trex kick.
.140ML CH gone after 6-10 minutes. Maybe an itch left.
.175ML CH gone in 3-5 minutes. Gone. I mean gone.

If I am really hurting I may take .200ML since I am all pissy. 3-5 minute relief.

Get the picture? Since they put about .6ML in a .5ML vial, one gets 3.5 to 4.0 doses out of it.

Note that I never dreamed of sticking myself with a needle up until two weeks ago. 20 doses later....

Rock Lobster

Title: Re: New Medications
Post by Rock_Lobster on Mar 22^nd, 2004, 6:42am

I just told my doc 'gimme da vials instead'. He said he never wrote a script for them (he is not a neuro). I had all the details he needed...
.5ml/6mg. They come 5 to a box. My ins covered 16.
He wrote it, along with a script for 50 syringes.
He sent a nurse in to show me how to shoot myself up with saline. Piece-o-cake.

The pharmacist indicated that this is not-at-all unique... that she fills several scripts for vials weekly.

I am not certain why anyone who does the Imitrex trick does not just get the vials, unless their doc's refuse to prescribe vials or some other such reason.

Title: Re: New Medications
Post by hdbngr on Mar 23^rd, 2004, 5:23pm

Some are having luck with olanzapine (Zyprexa) taken as an abortive rather than a preventative.

5mg at onset, can repeat 5mg if it doesn't help. Makes you loopy, though.

Has some nasty side effects if taken long term (don't they all?) but is worth a try.

Title: Re: New Medications
Post by t_h_b on Mar 23^rd, 2004, 6:32pm

on 03/23/04 at 17:54:40, HypnoticFreddy wrote:

Just saw neuro and he has never heard of Imitrex in vials.

-Freddy

See page 20:

http://us.gsk.com/products/assets/us_imitrex_injection.pdf

You can also get there by going to imitrex.com and clicking on the link to injections at the bottom of the page.

Obviously the GSK rep is asleep on the job in your part of town.

Is your neuro now aware that Imitrex comes in vials or did what you said go in one ear and out the other?