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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2005 >> caffeine/Excedrin as an abortive
        
(Message started by: madaline on Jul 28^th, 2005, 2:41pm)

Title: caffeine/Excedrin as an abortive
Post by madaline on Jul 28^th, 2005, 2:41pm

HI, this is Madaline again checking in with my experiments with caffeine. I know it has only been about 10 days that I have been experimenting with the caffeine since I accidentally discovered that it helped abort my head pains very quickly. I still take 600mg. TR Verapamil every night, but I have not taken an Indocine or used the Zomig since I have added Caffeine to my regime. (I drank a soda after taking Tylenol one day when I forgot to take my Indocine with me and lo and behold, the #8 pain subsided in under a half hour. I figured the only thing different that I did was the caffeine in the soda) So when I got my usual every night pain, for the next two nights, I used the O2 (15L for 15 mins.) and then since the O2 took the edge off, but did not get rid of the pain I started taking one Excedrin after the O2 and the pain left in about 5 mins after taking the Excedrin. Last night I took one extra strength Excedrin(it has 65mg. of caffeine per pill) without using the O2 and in about 13 mins the pain was gone. I can't believe it; I have lived on Indocine for 9 years now, beside using all the other abortives; I don't want to get too excited, but if this works......... (I am resigned to never being pain free.) Even though I still never sleep thru the night, such quick pain relief is wonderful. Let's see how long this lasts. Anyone else use Excedrin with these reults? I'll keep you all posted. LOL. Madaline

Title: Re: caffeine/Excedrin as an abortive
Post by vig on Jul 28^th, 2005, 3:00pm

If you really think it's just the caffeine, then why not get caffeine pills. Excedrin probably isn't doing anything but harm, so go easy on yourself!

Title: Re: caffeine/Excedrin as an abortive
Post by madaline on Jul 28^th, 2005, 3:12pm

Hi Vig, thanks for the suggestion. I don't think it is the caffeine alone, I think it is the caffeine that makes the analgesic work quickly, so I am afraid to give up the pain killer part of the therapy. Madaline

Title: Re: caffeine/Excedrin as an abortive
Post by Sandy_C on Jul 28^th, 2005, 3:56pm

During my cycles, I never had hits after waking up in the morning. I drank 2-3 cups stong black coffee, and was totally pain free - not even shadows all morning long. But, around 2:00 - 3:00 in the afternoons, I could feel the shadows coming, and sure enough - bam!. So, after reading some posts about caffeine, I thought I would try drinking more coffee in the afternoons. It did help with the mid afternoon shadows and hits, but I still got my biggies in the evening - didn't do a thing for those. Plus, the darn caffeine literally gave me the jumps and jitters, with racing heart beat, hot flashes (yes, I get those anyway, but I had more than usual) and kept me wired all night long. I was getting more sleep at night with hits and all than I was with the caffeine. So, it's back to my 2-3 cups in the morning. My body just cannot tolerate too much caffeine, so be careful.

Title: Re: caffeine/Excedrin as an abortive
Post by burnt-toast on Jul 28^th, 2005, 7:49pm

I'm not sure Madeline - I drink really hot tea during my attacks - sometimes many cups. The heat really relieves some of the pain in my teeth and the roof of my mouth. There is a lot of caffein involved but at least inm my case the CH attacks have to run their course.

But if it works for ya' stay with it. Just watch the number of Excedrin you take they're bad for the stomach and not real compatable with some meds.

Tom

Title: Re: caffeine/Excedrin as an abortive
Post by madaline on Jul 28^th, 2005, 9:29pm

Hi Tom, Thanks for the info. I know I cannot take any asperin products with my Indocine, but what other meds are you referring to that are not compatible with the Excedrin? Madaline.

Title: Re: caffeine/Excedrin as an abortive
Post by vig on Jul 28^th, 2005, 9:47pm

Isn't Excedrin Aspirin?

"Each tablet, caplet or geltab contains Acetaminophen 250mg, Aspirin 250mg and Caffeine 65mg. "

Title: Re: caffeine/Excedrin as an abortive
Post by madaline on Jul 28^th, 2005, 10:18pm

Yes, those are the ingredients in Excedrin, but for about two weeks now, I have not taken the Indocine since I am taking the caffeine with asperin. That, with the O2 and Verapamil, seems to be a fairly good abortive - so far. I never get too excited about anything because what works one day or week, doesn't necessarily work the next.(I'm a chronic.) Oh well, we keep plugging. Hope you guys get some relief too. Madaline.

Title: Re: caffeine/Excedrin as an abortive
Post by BMoneeTheMoneeMan on Jul 31^st, 2005, 1:30pm

Be very careful with pain relievers. Like lots of people here, i took dozens of pain killers daily for the clusters. I took excedrin, advil, tylonol and vocodin. In addition to this, i also drink lots of coffee, and also cola.
Although caffeine is a remarkable pain killer for regular headaches, i dont think that anyone gets relief from clusters. You have to be very careful with the pain killers as they cause rebound CHs.
I would advise that you only take 1 pill at a time and wait a couple hours. It may just be in your head, but I dont think that pain relievers have any effect on Clusters......in fact lots of people say that pain killers make it worse. That was definately the case for me.
PF wishes
BMonee

Title: Re: caffeine/Excedrin as an abortive
Post by Jasmyn on Jul 31^st, 2005, 2:11pm

on 07/28/05 at 22:18:24, madaline wrote:

Madaline, caffeine just makes the absorption of meds faster, that's why caffeine is added to most drugs. Try a very strong cup of coffee when you take the Verapamil, it will have the same effect.

Good luck!

Title: Re: caffeine/Excedrin as an abortive
Post by bnfreeman on Jul 31^st, 2005, 4:59pm

Mad, I read up on the caffiene thing and Excedrin for shadows. I started drinking alot of Mountain Dew. But it never really helped me. In fact, when I cut out caffiene, I did not shadow as much. I quit using any OTC drugs along time ago because it never helped me. I hope it continues to help some. Beware of stomach ulcers.

BF

Title: Re: caffeine/Excedrin as an abortive
Post by marlinsfan on Jul 31^st, 2005, 8:19pm

Madeline, I was taking excedrin too before I found this site. That and trex. It is true, the caffeine is what does the trick. The aspirin and acetaminophen will hurt your stomach after a while.

I now chug a big glass of strong black coffee, after cooling it with some ice, when I feel a hit coming on. Also, starbucks makes these little cans of espresso shots which I take with me everywhere I go. Although I have trex and excedrin in my keychain, I haven't touched them in the 2 months since I got here. O2 works when I wake up at night with a bad one, but the caffeine aborts the few daytime hits I get. Also gets rid of shadows.

I saw your other thread, you definitely need the non-rebreather mask. I get relief in 12 minutes with 8 liters/minute.

I've also learned a lot about triggers. Alcohol, for instance, will give me a hit within 30 minutes. So will aspartame (in diet coke or equal sweetener).

I'm also taking melatonin, 9 mg per night. After a few nights, it took care of the nighttime hits. I was getting 3-4 per night, went down to 1 per night.

hang in there.
Jose

Title: Re: caffeine/Excedrin as an abortive
Post by marlinsfan on Jul 31^st, 2005, 8:21pm

on 07/31/05 at 16:59:33, bnfreeman wrote:

BF: the citric acid is a trigger for me. Any OJ, lime, lemon, or anything with citric acid will either cause a hit, or keep one from going away, even with the meds, O2 or caffeine. Dew has tons of citric acid.
Jose

Title: Re: caffeine/Excedrin as an abortive
Post by Charlie on Aug 1^st, 2005, 2:14pm

I'm not sure about the caffeine but I drink gallons of the strongest coffee you can imagine. The thing is, that I've been drinking gallons of coffee for 45 years. I was 23 when my CH appeared and 45 when it disappeared. It beats me. My coffee consumption has been a constant during my CH.

Keep doing what you're doing. Maybe for you that's what it takes. PF and good luck.

Charlie

Title: Re: caffeine/Excedrin as an abortive
Post by unsolved1 on Aug 1^st, 2005, 2:26pm

I only wish an Excedrin would take away my pain :-/

UNsolved

Title: Re: caffeine/Excedrin as an abortive
Post by thomas on Aug 1^st, 2005, 3:00pm

on 08/01/05 at 14:26:56, unsolved1 wrote:

I only wish an Excedrin would take away my pain :-/

UNsolved

I use it a lot for shadows. It doesn't do anything for my hits, but it does help with the shadows. I use the excedrine Megraine pills.

Title: Re: caffeine/Excedrin as an abortive
Post by gore2424 on Aug 1^st, 2005, 5:36pm

Hi all : 17 years ago when I first got these clusters I would drink lots of coffee and take the old "Sine-Off" cold med its an Antihistamine and it took edge off clusters and was only thing that worked for me til my wifey found out what was wromg with me (she went to the downtown library a lot) Terry

Title: Re: caffeine/Excedrin as an abortive
Post by Kris_in_SJ on Aug 1^st, 2005, 7:12pm

I'm like Thomas. At the peak of cycle I tend to shadow heavily in the afternoons. A strong coffee of Latte' really helps in pushing them back. Never helped with a full blown hit though.

Kris

Title: Re: caffeine/Excedrin as an abortive
Post by marty on Aug 3^rd, 2005, 7:29am

Hi

I have been drinking coffee when I get hit since I can remember. When I am in cycle, the coffee pot stays on 24 hours a day. I drink it as hot as I can, sometimes I even get small blisters on my lips. In-between sipping the hot coffee, I inhale the vapors (someone told me that they are listed as a hazardous material so it must do something).

I am not sure that it helps very much but it is part of my ritual and I think that we all have a ritual of some kind.

There have been times when the attack was to hard and the cup of coffee whent flying across the room - but most of the times it helps me through. I don't take any medications except for a handful of advil every now and then. As long as the coffee works (imagined?) I am to scared to try something that may (or may not) mess with my heart such as triptans.

Marty

Title: Re: caffeine/Excedrin as an abortive
Post by BlueMeanie on Aug 3^rd, 2005, 5:34pm

Great combo for shadows AFTER the CH. Doesn't do nothing for aborting one.