My grandson's neurologist prescribed Oxycontin and Percocet to prevent CH's.  This sounds fishy.  Any comments would be greatly appreciated.

Find a new doctor who actually knows something about CH's.

Seriously.

LOCATING HEADACHE SPECIALIST

1. Search the OUCH site (button on left) for a list of recommended M.D.s.

2. Yellow Pages phone book: look for "Headache Clinics" in the M.D. section and look under "neurologist" where some docs will list speciality areas of practice.

3.  Call your hospital/medical center. They often have an office to assist in finding a physician. You may have to ask for the social worker/patient advocate.

4. START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE; On-line screen to find a physician.

5. START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE Look for "Physician Finder" search box.  Call 1-800-643-5552; they will send a list of M.D.s for your state.I suggest using this source for several reasons: first, we have read several messages from people who, even seeing neurologists, are unhappy with the quality of care and ATTITUDES they have encountered; second, the clinical director of the Jefferson (Philadelphia) Headache Clinic said, in late 1999, that upwards of 40%+ of U.S. doctors have poor training in treating headache and/or hold attitudes about headache ("hysterical female disorder") which block them from sympathetic and effective work with the patient; third, it's necessary to find a doctor who has experience, skill, and a set of attitudes which give hope of success. This is the best method I know of to find such a physician.

Thanks for your comment, Mark.  I really do need a better answer.  Has anyone heard of these meds being prescribed for CH's?

Thank you, Bob.

stoney wrote on Sep 17^th, 2009 at 7:22pm:

My grandson's neurologist prescribed Oxycontin and Percocet to prevent CH's.  This sounds fishy.  Any comments would be greatly appreciated.

I am not a doctor or diagnostician, but this is one subject I am passionate about.  Oxycontin!  You've got to be kidding!  Not only does it not help Cluster Headaches, it is very addictive!  An addiction to Oxycontin would be worse than Cluster Headaches in my humble opinion!  Marc is right...find another doctor!

Joni   [smiley=sayno.gif]

Stoney,
Yes, those drugs have been prescribed, but they are not the first line of treatment (actually, they aren't even in the ballpark).  Not only can they cause rebound headaches, they are addictive.  There are far better drugs out there.  Lucky for your grandson, you will be able to help educate him.  How old is your grandson?

A link of the OUCH website.

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A doctor who prescribes narcotics for CH is merely creating another regular customer for himself. JMHO.

I agree with Joni...an addiction to oxycontin would be worse than cluster headaches.  Especially since it often times leads to even worse drugs.

Besides I think most everyone here would agree, narcotics don't help, they just add a complication people with cluster headaches don't need...

stoney wrote on Sep 17^th, 2009 at 7:41pm:

Thanks for your comment, Mark.  I really do need a better answer.  Has anyone heard of these meds being prescribed for CH's?

  What more do ya want?  Narcotics don't work for clusters.

             Potter

Quote:

Has anyone heard of these meds being prescribed for CH's?

Yes we have heard of that, but only from doctors who know very little about the mechanics behind a cluster headache.

Mark was right on. Find another doctor. This one will not help you.

Opiates/narcotics = NO relief for clusters

Have to agree with Marc.

I was given narcotics early on for CH, but they never did me a lick of good.  In fact, when I was taking them, I had more attacks, and the attacks were more severe.

YMMV, of course, but I'll never use them again.  And I'd run from any doctor who wanted to prescribe narcotics for CH.

JMO.  Take it for what it's worth.

Best wishes,

George

Read Svenn's post on "Dancing with the Devil."

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Take care, and help your grandson find another neurologist.

Narcotics have helped me, but like everyone else said, not recommended.  While I was on them (taken when CH set in) I never had a headache last more than 1 hour.  Now, the problem is, it could have just been the headache, not the meds working since mine usually last 15 min-3.5 hrs.

It's 3 hrs into the 3.5 hr ones now when I wish I had them, then again who knows!

So...that probably didnt help at all huh!?!?!

I cannot speak to oxycontin directly, but percocet gives you a nice high, and you might not care so much about it, but it does not take away the pain of CH. 

Marc told you right.  Find another Dr.  I wouldn't hurry any.  Yesterday would be soon enough. 

I didn't get hooked on Percocet, but I did on Fiorinol 3.  It didn't help either.

Read the oxygen info to the left.  FAR more effective, and it's not addictive (other than in the natural form.  Withdrawal from that is fatal), and it doesn't have any side effects.  At 25 LPM I can kill an attack in 5-8 mins.

Jerry

ya'll are crazy narcotic pain relievers are the only ones that work well for me. i have chronic cluster headaches. given that doctor probably didn't choose the best medicines but don't knock opiates as a form of relief. it is the best relief i have taken. ive had mine for 15 years and only recently started opiates for relief but it has changed my life. i can actually function. don't knock it just because it wasn't for you

bran4on wrote on Sep 30^th, 2009 at 10:16pm:

ya'll are crazy narcotic pain relievers are the only ones that work well for me. i have chronic cluster headaches. given that doctor probably didn't choose the best medicines but don't knock opiates as a form of relief. it is the best relief i have taken. ive had mine for 15 years and only recently started opiates for relief but it has changed my life. i can actually function. don't knock it just because it wasn't for you

    I'll bet it changed your life.  Try oxygen,

      Potter

Quote:

ya'll are crazy narcotic pain relievers are the only ones that work well for me. i have chronic cluster headaches. given that doctor probably didn't choose the best medicines but don't knock opiates as a form of relief. it is the best relief i have taken. ive had mine for 15 years and only recently started opiates for relief but it has changed my life.

On the other thread you said that indomethacin  was the drug that you had just started, not opiates.
Which is it?

CAUTION!! Narcotics unless given IV take upwards of 30 minutes to become effective. If they are working now, wait a month or two and your body WILL build up a tolerance. Then you will need more to get the same effect and the spiral begins.

21 years ago before I was diagnosed I was given Tylenol 3-4's and Fiorinal. I found I had to take 2 every four hours 24 hours a day. I set my alarm for 4 hours after going to bed. Well after 3 months this was not stopping the hits......

Be aware, what's being said here is from 'been there, done that.' We all do what we have to do and right now that is pointing out the facts.

Also, being under the influence of pain meds almost cost me my job. An incident ocurred and I was told don't come back to work until the pain meds are gone.

Good luck, Don

Bran4on-

Are you sure you have cluster headaches?  If so, and you are using opiates, you may soon have an additional problem before you know it...addiction.