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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2005 >> Can glycerin do anything?
        
(Message started by: ClusterChuck on Jul 11th, 2005, 8:32pm)
Title: Can glycerin do anything?
Post by ClusterChuck on Jul 11th, 2005, 8:32pm
I called a radio talk show, the other day, and in relating my point, I mentioned I suffer from cluster headaches.  After I hung up, another listener called and claimed that he used to suffer from cluster headaches.  From his description of his symptoms, it DID sound like CH, but I was unable to talk to this person.

Anyhow, this person claimed that his doctor recommended that he dissolve a glycerin tablet, under his tongue, when he felt a hit coming on.  He said he did this for several hits, and it seemed to lessen each time he did this.  They then stopped, and it has now been 15 years since his last hit.

A coincidence, or something that worked?  Has anyone ever heard of this?

Chuck

Edited to add: I did a search though the archives here, and did not find any reference to this.
Title: Re: Can glycerin do anything?
Post by E-Double on Jul 11th, 2005, 8:37pm
as in soap biproduct????
Title: Re: Can glycerin do anything?
Post by ClusterChuck on Jul 11th, 2005, 8:45pm

on 07/11/05 at 20:37:50, E-Double wrote:
as in soap biproduct????

I don't know.  He just said a "glycerin tablet".

Sure wish I could have talked to him!

Chuck
Title: Re: Can glycerin do anything?
Post by Grandma_Sweet_Boy on Jul 11th, 2005, 9:06pm
You might try calling the radio station to see if they'd help you get in touch with the caller.  No harm in trying.

Carol
Title: Re: Can glycerin do anything?
Post by burnt-toast on Jul 11th, 2005, 10:04pm
I'll have to go through my reference material but I believe Glycerin is mentioned in several publications as a trigger for cluster attacks along side such things as alcohol.  I'll let you know if I'm wrong.

Tom    
Title: Re: Can glycerin do anything?
Post by burnt-toast on Jul 11th, 2005, 10:14pm
No looks like I read something wrong - can't find references to Glycerin as a trigger.

Tom
Title: Re: Can glycerin do anything?
Post by floridian on Jul 11th, 2005, 10:27pm
Theory 1:
Nitro-glycerine is definitely a trigger.  But maybe repeated use desensitizes the body to nitric oxide, just as a histamine drip can break a cycle.  Most references to "glycerine tablet" on the net were for nitroglycerine.  Not sure how many nitro tablets a person can take in a day before they explode or otherwise have serious problems,  I wouldn't reccommend people just start popping their poppers unless they knew exactly what they were getting themselves into.  Histamine drips are done in the hospital or specialized clinic for a reason.

Theory 2:
Glycerin may actually prevent clusters.
Glycerin is a syrupy liquid, so not sure about a glycerin tablet. A few mentions of cough drop tablets with glycerine on the net - Pine Brothers used it, but more as a moisturizer for the throat.  And according to the Wikipedia, glycerin does feed into the metabolism in an interesting way:


Quote:
When referring to its function in living organism, the term glycerol is preferred. Glycerol is an important component of triglycerides (i.e. fats and oils) and of phospholipids. When the body uses stored fat as a source of energy, glycerol and fatty acids are released into the bloodstream. The glycerol component can be converted to glucose by the liver and provide energy for cellular metabolism.


Clusterheads have a messed up phospholipid metabolism, and lipolysis (the break down of fats into di-glycerides, then glycerol) turns off before an attack in some of us.


Quote:
Neurology. 2003 Nov 11;61(9):1250-4.
   
   Diminished nocturnal lipolysis in cluster headache: a sign of central sympathetic dysregulation?

   Meyer EL, Waldenlind E, Marcus C.

   Department of Neurology, Karolinska Institute, Huddinge University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. eva.laudon-meyer@hs.se

   BACKGROUND: It is unclear whether the autonomic symptoms during cluster headache (CH) attacks are of central or peripheral origin. A metabolic change such as altered lipolysis would reflect a central autonomic dysfunction. OBJECTIVE: To study nocturnal lipolysis in CH patients and healthy control subjects. METHODS: Microdialysis technique was used to measure glycerol levels, the end-product of lipolysis, in subcutaneous adipose tissue. Ten CH patients participated, of whom six were studied in remission as well as during symptomatic periods but between headache attacks. Fifteen healthy control subjects were studied. Mean glycerol, glucose, and lactate concentrations were calculated for three 2-hour intervals between 2400 and 0600 hours. RESULTS: Compared with healthy control subjects, symptomatic CH patients had lower glycerol levels during all three intervals (69, 61, and 73% of control levels; p < 0.05). CH patients in remission showed lower glycerol levels from 0200 to 0600 hours (68 and 63% of control levels; p < 0.05). There were no significant differences between the CH groups. Compared with healthy control subjects, patients in remission also showed a significantly different nocturnal temporal pattern, demonstrating declining glycerol levels during the first part of the night. CONCLUSIONS: Altered lipolysis was found in patients with CH, both in symptomatic periods and in remission. The altered lipolysis may be due to a reduced nocturnal sympathetic activity and consequently an indication of central sympathetic dysregulation and hypothalamic dysfunction.


Worth pursuing these angles.  It would be an amazing universe if a simple molecule like glycerine were as effective as oxygen in battling the beast.
Title: Re: Can glycerin do anything?
Post by ozzy on Jul 12th, 2005, 11:48am

on 07/11/05 at 22:27:55, floridian wrote:
Theory 1:
Nitro-glycerine is definitely a trigger.  But maybe repeated use desensitizes the body to nitric oxide, just as a histamine drip can break a cycle.  Most references to "glycerine tablet" on the net were for nitroglycerine.  Not sure how many nitro tablets a person can take in a day before they explode or otherwise have serious problems,  I wouldn't reccommend people just start popping their poppers unless they knew exactly what they were getting themselves into.  Histamine drips are done in the hospital or specialized clinic for a reason.

Theory 2:
Glycerin may actually prevent clusters.
Glycerin is a syrupy liquid, so not sure about a glycerin tablet. A few mentions of cough drop tablets with glycerine on the net - Pine Brothers used it, but more as a moisturizer for the throat.  And according to the Wikipedia, glycerin does feed into the metabolism in an interesting way:


About Theory 1.

If desensitization via Nitric Oxide release is intended, why not use Arginine a common Amino Acid commonly used by bodybuilders for an increased "pump" that actually lasts longer (thereby providing the muscle with higher amounts of nutrients {this last part is sort of controversial...}) I wouldn't be sure with amounts, but as with everything being a guinea pig is hard work (to paraphrase someone we all know)


About Theory 2:

Glycerine has long been used by powerlifters for energy before lifting and lately most Nitric Oxide increase products that are available in the market contain Glycerol as part of their ingredients  for a synergistic effect. (I couldn't find any studies that say so, but there is plenty on Arginine and Glycerine.

Just some thoughts....


Ozzy
Title: Re: Can glycerin do anything?
Post by Karla on Jul 12th, 2005, 4:50pm
No I have read things about it being a known trigger like alcohol.  Deadly for us.  Crazy it worked for him.
Title: Re: Can glycerin do anything?
Post by ozzy on Jul 15th, 2005, 2:32pm
Just a bump!


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