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        New Message Board Archives >> Jul-Sep 2003 >> Visited my Neuro today!
        
(Message started by: Patrick_A on Jul 17^th, 2003, 1:15pm)

Title: Visited my Neuro today!
Post by Patrick_A on Jul 17^th, 2003, 1:15pm

Where should i start?
Met my Neuro today, Seemed to be a nice "Young" fellow. Its a good sign ur getting old when ur Dr. is younger than you.
He was good enough to listen to my imput, and then he gave me his.
He made a few classical mistakes. He said Ch's are a flavor of Migraines. I have been told here that is not true. I can't say i really give a rats ass. Its pain, plain and simple. I asked him about Verapamil and Prednisone, but he shot that down. He said he had success with Depakote. I am sitting there thinking, "Hmmm, Small town Neuro! Had success with Depakote! Just how many Ch sufferers are there in this town?"
But for one of the rare times in my life, i decided to sit back and listen. So today i have started taking the Depakote as a preventative. He also gave me some samples of FrovaTriptan as an abortive. I need to talk to my Insurance administrator about getting some oxygen. I also got some more Imitrex nasal sprays and tablets.
Can anybody tell me about Depakote....Does it work? Any side effects?
How about Frovatriptan? Is that as good as Imitrex?
Thanks, Patrick

Title: Re: Visited my Neuro today!
Post by BruceD on Jul 17^th, 2003, 1:38pm

Hey Patrick,

I believe that depakote is some sort of antiseizure drug. I think that some here have found relief while using it but IIRC the side effects from antiseizure meds can be ugly. Perhaps Ueli can give more insight.

Take care
BruceD

P.S. I just did a search on depakote and found quite a few posts on it. (choose Search from the Message Board bar and make sure to change the Max Age Since box to something like 60 days)

Title: Re: Visited my Neuro today!
Post by stuey on Jul 17^th, 2003, 1:47pm

Hi Patrick. Depakote is an anti-seizure drug and is used to also help with bi-polar disorder. I have nocturnal epilepsy and was prescribed this but couldn't stand it. Forget why, I think I just felt plain bad. It also can cause weight gain but a little weight versus relief is not bad. It may work for you. My neuro mentioned a different anti-seizure drug which seems to work as a preventive for CH as well - it's called Topamax. It covers all kinds of seizure whereas the one I take now only covers partial seizures. He was gonna give me some samples but was out of them. He's a epilepsy neuro not a headache specialist and didn't want to do anything behind the headache guy's back. My headache guy all he did was up my verapamil to 960. Had an attack last night. I will mention the Topamax to him when I see him next. I hope the Depakote works for you.

Title: Re: Visited my Neuro today!
Post by Svenn on Jul 17^th, 2003, 3:57pm

Hi there friend

Welcome to Clusterville

A BIG hello from the land of the vikings "Norway"

Here you are among the best friends EVER on this globe.

This is my coctail

Verapamil Retard 120mgX5-7/daily during cycle 3 weeks after last hit tapering down with 1 verap every 3/4 days until you are on 1 a day.1 a day for another 2 weeks you can decide to quit the verap or take 1 a day.Oxygene alone at 10ltm for 15 minutes or combined with imitrex-shots does miracles.The shots should start working in 6-9minutes.a few seconds after that you are almost painfree
Prednisolone in high doze for 10 days 80mg
then over a 3 weeks periode step down like 70-60-50-40-30-20-10-5mg every 3/4 day
This work fine for me

The very best from Svenn

Title: Re: Visited my Neuro today!
Post by cbolony on Jul 17^th, 2003, 4:14pm

Patrick_A I take verapamil 480mg aday and depaktote
1500mgs aday how much depaktote do you take

Title: Re: Visited my Neuro today!
Post by Big_Dan on Jul 17^th, 2003, 4:25pm

... Hey Patrick...

... my old neuro put me on 500mg depakote, but 3 days into it, it caused acid reflux or something. So he switched me to topamax (sp). But this was after I had blatenly told him that the cycle was already over. So I dropped him like a bad habbit and got in touch with a refered neuro in KC, Mo.

If you need to, tavel to see a worthy doc.... you'll thank yourself later, trust me.

-Big Dan

Title: Re: Visited my Neuro today!
Post by fubar on Jul 17^th, 2003, 4:30pm

Depakote, Topomax, Neurontin... these are all anti-seizure meds that are sometimes prescribed as preventitive for CH.

I took Depakote... initially it helped reduce the frequency, severity and duration of my headaches, but it's effectiveness was short lived. They say there is the possibility of weight gain, but my neuro says that he has only seen weight gain primarily in women. I actually lost about 1 lb per week while I was on it.

-Fu