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Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> ergotamines http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1252489844 Message started by madaline on Sep 9th, 2009 at 5:50am |
Title: ergotamines Post by madaline on Sep 9th, 2009 at 5:50am
I have not written in at least a year; I am a chronic for about 12 years, have tried almost everything. Verapamil controls the daytime attacks pretty well and caffeine gets rid of the ones I do get in the daytime, but have not had a painfree night in years. I am exhausted!! Now my neurologist wants me to try an ergotamine as a preventive, but my medical doctor had me make an appt. with a cardiologist since the erg. is a vasoconstrictor. I have been taking Relpax as an abortive but you cannot take that on a nightly basis, is what I am told. What info can you all give me about ergotamines? Does anyone take them on a daily basis? I will really appreciate the info. Hurting in Md. Madaline.
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Title: Re: ergotamines Post by black on Sep 9th, 2009 at 6:48am Quote:
Huh? :-? I am taking dihydergot( dihydroergotamine) not as a preventive but as an abortive in the beggining of a crisis with a coffee or an energy drink and nothing else for the next 6-8 hours.If another crisis after six hours pass hits back i repeat this. If it is before six hours pass i prefer another coffee or energy drink with an icepack on face. (but be careful as i haven't ever discussed it with a neuro so all these it's my own risk) For night hits there are lots of posts for melatonin helping having a good night sleep.You should give them a look But i never thought of ergotamine and dihydroergotamine as preventative but rather as an abortive when and if needed.Don't know what to say. :-? pf wishes :) |
Title: Re: ergotamines Post by gizmo on Sep 9th, 2009 at 7:52am
I took ergotamine (not DHE!) as a preventative 30-35 years ago, AFAIR it worked and I didn't had any problems from it.
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Title: Re: ergotamines Post by clavers on Sep 9th, 2009 at 9:37am
I take DHE injections to abort CH attacks. At first the injection worked like imitrex, but as time passed it became necessary to use O2 along with the DHE to abort an attack. When I use this combination, even though it is sometimes awkward, it prevents another attack for at least 24 hours.
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Title: Re: ergotamines Post by Bob_Johnson on Sep 9th, 2009 at 2:46pm
Yes, ergotamine at bedtime was a old time preventive of night attacks. Worked pretty well and I used it as a preventive when going to do hard work which would increase body temperature (another trigger for some of us).
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Title: Re: ergotamines Post by madaline on Sep 9th, 2009 at 7:53pm
Thank you for your replies. I also read the websites that Bob Johnson gave another poster, and found the articles extremely informative. I now have more questions on the medicine that my doctor prescribed, as it seems it causes internal scarring of organs etc. I have to check into all this; the more I read, the more let down I get as to ever getting rid of this thing. It seems the side effects of the meds are more lethal than the disease!! Madaline. ::)
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Title: Re: ergotamines Post by AussieBrian on Sep 9th, 2009 at 8:59pm madaline wrote on Sep 9th, 2009 at 7:53pm:
Too right. Especially if it turns out the neuro supplying the ergotomines has massively over-dosed you. |
Title: Re: ergotamines Post by madaline on Sep 10th, 2009 at 12:12am
Well it is after midnight now.The first of my nightly attacks started at 9:30PM and I am now so overdosed on caffeine that it is letting up. About a K-5 now so I will take something to try to get a couple of hours sleep before next attack. Night all. Madaline.
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Title: Re: ergotamines Post by Bob P on Sep 10th, 2009 at 6:58am Quote:
Sounds like you're talking about Sansert. |
Title: Re: ergotamines Post by Bob_Johnson on Sep 10th, 2009 at 7:54am
As BobP notes: if your doc is considering Sansert--there are very well known problems with prolonged use. Common to take a break from use every 6-months and this prevents the side effects.
IF you are, as I assumed, asking about ergo. to get thru the night, then no problem. The night time dose is 1mg and even at this low dose, the side effect potential is well recognized and so dosing limits over X-time are published. As with any med, we must have knowledge to balance benefit & potential risks. A list of side effects is a statement of POSSIBILITIES. It is not a PREDICTION of what will occur. Wisdom calls for knowing both the risk and asking the doc what to look for, i.e., symptoms of side effects. |
Title: Re: ergotamines Post by madaline on Sep 11th, 2009 at 6:31am
I can't actually read the name of the medicine, (due to doc's handwriting) but I am taking the prescription to the pharmacist to see what she can tell me about the med. Will let you all know what she says. Madaline.
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Title: Re: ergotamines Post by madaline on Sep 11th, 2009 at 6:32am
I can't actually read the name of the medicine, (due to doc's handwriting) but I am taking the prescription to the pharmacist to see what she can tell me about the med. Will let you all know what she says. Madaline.
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Title: Re: ergotamines Post by clavers on Sep 11th, 2009 at 10:04am
I have been using DHE injections when necessary for about five years, sometimes on a daily basis. So far I am still alive, and as far as I know no organs are scarred. My neurologist put me on DHE because he said that he believed that Imitrex causes rebound headaches, and looking back on my use of that drug, I believe it. DHE has worked pretty well for me, although Blue Cross hates to let me have it and puts up any roadblock they can. Damn them.
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Title: Re: ergotamines Post by Lawrence on Sep 11th, 2009 at 1:32pm clavers wrote on Sep 11th, 2009 at 10:04am:
The insurance corporation can be pretty ugly sometimes. I was surprised when they let me have O2 without any hassle. :P |
Title: Re: ergotamines Post by madaline on Sep 11th, 2009 at 4:37pm
The new med being prescribed is Methergine. Anyone have any info on it? Thanks Madaline ::)
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Title: Re: ergotamines Post by madaline on Sep 13th, 2009 at 8:44pm
Hi Bob, thank you so much for all your great info. Yes, my neuro is up on all the latest info. I have just been with her about a year and a half.She does research at one of the most respected hospitals in the country (Johns Hopkins), here in Baltimore, Maryland.I am a chronic and a tough case. Over the last 13 years I have tried all the anti seizure meds, the melatonin route, the O2, Neurontin, Gabapentin, Chlonodine,Indomethacine which worked for me for four years and then just stopped having any effect,( four years - how long it took me to get diagnosed) and I could go on and on. I have been on Verapamil for about 5 years now; it controls the daytime attacks pretty well, but not the night ones. Most of the meds were all too heavy duty for me, and I became practically catatonic from some, my feet and hands swelled from others etc. Others had no effect. So we keep going down the list; I am not a great patient when it comes to trying new meds because I read about all the side effects and I walk around for a few months before I try each new med. But, thank you for all your great info and sites. Hope you all are well. Madaline. :)
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