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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2005 >> Alcohol, Tobacco, and painkillers.  Avoid??
        
(Message started by: BMoneeTheMoneeMan on Jan 18^th, 2005, 6:55pm)

Title: Alcohol, Tobacco, and painkillers. Avoid??
Post by BMoneeTheMoneeMan on Jan 18^th, 2005, 6:55pm

My doc told me not to use alcohol or tobacco cause it has negative effects on CH. I also read here that pain killers, both prescription and OTC, are very bad to take.
I stopped taking any painkillers at all and have noticed that the frequency and severity of the CHs has dropped. Anyone else notice this?
Alcohol, tobacco and pain killers, can anyone confirm that they are all bad to take for CH sufferers?
Thanks and PF wishes to all
BMonee

Title: Re: Alcohol, Tobacco, and painkillers. Avoid??
Post by nani on Jan 18^th, 2005, 7:05pm

Alcohol is a trigger for many of us. Painkillers cause rebound headaches. People are on both sides of the cigarette opinion.

Title: Re: Alcohol, Tobacco, and painkillers. Avoid
Post by Kris_in_SJ on Jan 18^th, 2005, 8:04pm

I can do without the alcohol and painkillers - yes, they can be triggers or cause rebounds. However, I can't live without my Benson & Hedges Gold Ultralights. So far, haven't found them to be a problem - except for future disease potential, that is!

Kris

Title: Re: Alcohol, Tobacco, and painkillers. Avoid??
Post by Chillrmn1 on Jan 18^th, 2005, 9:12pm

My understanding of alcohol effects on the body is that it is a blood vessel dilitator. As I try to understand the elementary mechanisms of cluster attacks, it's my understanding, precursor is vessel dilation resulting in increased blood flow and attack. I no longer dare consume alcohol in cycle or not for fear of triggering. When in cycle in the past when consuming alcohol, cluster headache attack for me was gauranteed within 5 minutes of consumption.

Vicodin (painkiller) was also prescribed due to a dental procedure while in cycle. Bad mistake for me, intense cluster ensued shortly after taking. Personally will avoid narcotic painkillers in my case.

Need my Marlboros, seem to have a soothing affect for me especially after an attack. May be wrong on this, but seem to recall nicotine has a constricting affect on blood vessels.

Just my 2 cents for what's it's worth.

Hope pain free times to all!

Title: Re: Alcohol, Tobacco, and painkillers. Avoid??
Post by davidj35 on Jan 26^th, 2005, 1:43pm

Alcohol, (Red Wine and Beer in paticular) is a known trigger for clusters. I know for me I will get one before I even finish the drink and no amount of O2 can cure. Down to 3 -4 smokes a day with no lessening of chs. Haven't tried painkillers so no opinion.

Title: Re: Alcohol, Tobacco, and painkillers. Avoid
Post by floridian on Jan 26^th, 2005, 3:46pm

Alcohol - strong trigger for most episodics, some chronics.

Aspirin - merely worthless for aborting a headache - might have a preventive effect when taken for a prolonged time (reduces blood clotting, improves vascular responses).

Tylenol, ibuprofen, etc - worthless for aborting, no reason to believe it might prevent, not sure about rebounds.

Prescription painkillers - some definitely cause rebound headaches. Narcotics not usually effective for CH.

Caffeine - good when the beast hits (vasoconstrictor) but not a magic bullet. Taken in the afternoon or evening, it reduces melatonin production and may aggravate clusters.

Smoking - tar, particulates and carbon monoxide reduce oxygen levels in the blood, may aggravate clusters. Nicotine (from cigs, gum, patch) - a vasoconstrictor, may be helpful when getting hit with a headache, not sure about long term effects on CH.

Title: Re: Alcohol, Tobacco, and painkillers. Avoid??
Post by sandie99 on Jan 26^th, 2005, 4:17pm

Hmmm.... I don't smoke, I've become sober thanks to former preventatives but I have taken painkillers for other things than CH.

And what comes to me, the painkillers did me double good: they kept away the pain which I took them for and CH, too. Unexpected bonus. But that applied only burana 800mg I took on 3 occasions after my wisdom tooth was taken out. Otherwise, no difference whatsoever.

PFdays,
Sandie

Title: Re: Alcohol, Tobacco, and painkillers. Avoid??
Post by guesst on Jan 26^th, 2005, 4:52pm

This last cycle has been the first one that I could drink without triggering. But to be safe, if I were you, I would stay away from the painkillers and alcohol, but smoke all ya want, you may find it gives you what you need to beat those low level ones.

Title: Re: Alcohol, Tobacco, and painkillers. Avoid??
Post by vietvet2tours on Jan 27^th, 2005, 6:50pm

No Drinkin smoke em if ya gottem

Title: Re: Alcohol, Tobacco, and painkillers. Avoid??
Post by Chuffy on Feb 2^nd, 2005, 4:07am

I have been completely med free this cluster using just O2 and Shrooms and the only times I have been hit, albeit mildly, was after either alcohol or painkillers.

I took some painkillers (ibuprofen) for back pain the other day and got hit while at work. Luckily I made some shroom tea (drinking while giving a guitar lesson!!) and it went pretty quick.
Apart from that I have been pretty much PF for the whole ckluster, the only other hits coming either directly after alcohol or during the night after drinking.

I have come to the conclusion over the years that any sedative can trigger a CH where as stimulants, tea coffee, Red Bull, exercise etc etc are beneficial.

But the O2 and Shrooms are manna from Heaven. ;)

Title: Re: Alcohol, Tobacco, and painkillers. Avoid??
Post by vietvet2tours on Feb 2^nd, 2005, 3:38pm

o2 is pepto for the brain.