Hey everyone,
   After dealing with 10-12 hits a night for a couple of months,  I started taking cafergot  at bedtime,  along with melatonin to counter the caffiene.  It works great,  no more nightime hits.  My tank is just sitting there unused for the past couple of weeks.  What I am wondering is why cafergot is kind of refered to as an abortive and not a preventative by most CHers on ch.com.   Is there some reason not to take it on a daily basis during a bad time in a cycle?

any info would be appreciated.

thanks alot
christinew :-*

There have been many that have found relief with cafergot. Guiseppi, BobP, BarbD and myself to name a few. I found that I could breath the 02 and then take a cafergot pill and would get relief for quite a few hours. So in that sense, I was using it as a preventative.

One thing though. When I went to come off the cafergot, I had a couple of nervous days and couldn't sleep until it was all out of my system.

I don't know of any side effects to taking it daily but make sure you mention it to your doc just to make sure. Like Jimi, I pop a cafergot when I fire off the 02, 02 beats it down, cafergot buys me many hours of pain free time. I never tried the melatonin to counter the sleeplessness so I spent many the wee hours of the morning organizing my tupperware drawers or putting pictures into photo albums when I couldn't sleep!!! ;D

Joe

Guiseppe,  the melatonin knocks me right out,  cold.  I love it.  Thanks for your info, and I cant believe that it took me about 20 years of suffering to find this drug!!!!!  Its working great, and according to my doc, it has been around a long time.  

I urge anyone who hasnt tried it to ask their doctors if it might be right for them.  from the very first night of taking it, i have been relatively HA free,  other than an occasional hit around 9pm that O2 takes care of.  I dont know how long I will take it at bedtime, I guess until I feel that the shadows are disappearing,  its great! 8-) 8-)

That's great news. It's an old school CH med that fell out of favor because it takes too long to get into your system to work as an abortive. Although some on the board have had success using it as n abortive in the suppositiry form.

Hoping it keeps you pain free a while, that's always a good thing!

Joe

Long term use will result in rebound/drug overuse headaches when you stop taking it.  Rebound headaches are like tension headaches.

Using too much can cause ergotisim, reduction in blood flow to the extremities, resulting in gangrene and loss of some fingers or toes.

Cafergot constricts blood vesseles without discrimination.  The triptans are specific to cranial blood vessels which is better because it doesn't make your heart work as hard.

Needless to say, I've had cold fingers and toes many times from taking the stuff.  Have a big bottle stashed for the next episode (if there ever is one).