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        New Message Board Archives >> Jul-Sep 2003 >> I just found out my cousin has clusters!
        
(Message started by: Lori on Sep 11^th, 2003, 8:05pm)

Title: I just found out my cousin has clusters!
Post by Lori on Sep 11^th, 2003, 8:05pm

Her name is Sherry and she is in a cycle right now. She actually went to the ER Saturday with one. She thought she was having a migraine (she has had these in the pasat) except it wasn't like the migraines she has had before. The doctor who saw her told her immediately she was having a cluster headache, not a migraine!!! I almost fell over! I mean this is a tiny little town in Virginia! I'm really sad that she has these. We are close and she has sooooo many other medical issues (serious ones) to deal with, she DID nOT need this! I was just talking to her on the phone and she was starting to get another one. :'(
The doctor also told her she has what's called bracharydia (sp?), which is racing heart and pulse and unstable blood pressure. I have not heard that term before. I am going to go look it up, but does anyone know anything about this? He prescribed her midrin..need to go look that up too.

Thanks for listening.

Title: Re: I just found out my cousin has clusters!
Post by Lori on Sep 11^th, 2003, 8:10pm

I found the following at OUCH but I don't understand. Is this saying midrin can be dangerous used with things like verapamil?

Use of Abortive Medications Along With Prophylactic Treatment

Even though preventative agents reduce the frequency and severity of migraine attacks, many patients still have breakthrough migraine or tension-type headache while on prophylactics. Menstrual migraine is a good example of the breakthrough headache. In general, preventative medications make acute agents more effective. While using the prophylactic medication, one should make sure that abortive medications are not overused. Limiting use to twice a week is recommended in order to prevent secondary failure of prophylactic treatment. Table 12 shows the potential drug interactions between abortive and preventive agents.

Table 12. Caution and Contraindications for Combining Abortive and Prophylactic Migraine Therapy

Agent
Caution
Contraindication

Methysergide
Ergotamine,

Dihydroergotamine,

5-HT1 agonists

Monoamine oxidase inhibitors
Oral sumatriptan
Zolmitriptan
Rizatriptan
Meperidine
Sympathomimetics
Isometheptene (Midrin)

Divalproex
Overuse of short-acting

Barbiturates

Propranolol
Rizatriptan

Zolmitriptan

Erythromycin
Eletriptan

Title: Re: I just found out my cousin has clusters!
Post by judyw on Sep 11^th, 2003, 11:15pm

Sorry to hear about Sherry...Sounds like she has more than enough on her plate...Seems the doctor knew the HA, but not the meds...Midrin is for migraines and does not do anything for CH, that I know of from my experience...I hope she is under cardiologist care and he needs to know about this CH development...meds will need to work together...Does she have computer access so she can check in with the family here...keep us updated on how she is doing, please....PPP

Title: Re: I just found out my cousin has clusters!
Post by Lori on Sep 12^th, 2003, 12:53pm

Thanks Judy. She does have access and I told her the web address. She was admitted to the hospital today as she is VERY ill right now with bronchitis. She is asthmatic and needs IV meds. I told her last night to at least print up the o2 info in hopes while at the hospital they could try her on it. The doctor told her the bracharydia is related to the CH. I haven't heard this before and my searches come up empty..probably incorrect spelling? I don't know why midrin was given to her, but I told her about the Meds page too and the need for a preventative. She is just so sick and hurting with the CH at this moment that she's at the mercy of the doctor until she is well enough to research on here. I don't know if the doc recommended a cardiologist or not. She didn't say he did. He did tell her she needed to see a neuro but wanted to get the bronchitis under control first. If anyone knows anything about this bracharydia related to the CH thing, please let me know where I can find info on it for her. Thanks.

UPDATE:

Ok just found bradycardia on the web..but why would the doc tell her this and the CH are related? He said she had racing heart, pulse rate and unstable bp but that is not what bradycardia says exactly. It seems like it is opposite! Ok, I'm starting to think this doctor doesn't know much here about CH or about this whole thing! I just needed to talk myself thru that one I guess. LOL...chatting to myself now! What's next?!

Title: Re: I just found out my cousin has clusters!
Post by Tom on Sep 12^th, 2003, 1:34pm

CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY OF MIDRIN:

Isometheptene Mucate, a sympathomimetic amine, acts by constricting dilated cranial and cerebral arterioles, thus reducing the stimuli that lead to vascular headaches. Dichloralphenazone, a mild sedative, reduces the patient’s emotional reaction to the pain of both vascular and tension headaches. Acetaminophen raises the threshold to painful stimuli, thus exerting an analgesic effect against all types of headaches (but certainly n o t in CH...!).

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tachycardia = high heart rate = fast

bradycardia = low heart rate = slow