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Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> Question about Verapamil taper. http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1258737063 Message started by red ryder on Nov 20th, 2009 at 12:11pm |
Title: Question about Verapamil taper. Post by red ryder on Nov 20th, 2009 at 12:11pm
I am winding down a 2 week prednisone taper. I am also taking 180 mg extended release verapamil (1 pill) daily. I know after reading alot of the research that the emediate release is preferred by most, and that my dosage is low but it seems to be working or either the prednisone is still holding them at bay.
My question is how whould you taper when you are taking 1 pill a day. Do you skip every other day and see if there is any increase in headaches.I plan to stay on the current 180 a day until the shadows have gone, but just wondered about the tapering issue. My doc last time just had me quit cold turkey from the verap. Just wondereed what some of you have done to taper off a one pill dose that you cant break up. Thanks, Jay |
Title: Re: Question about Verapamil taper. Post by DennisM1045 on Nov 20th, 2009 at 12:29pm
It is mostly likely the pred taper keeping the beast at bay. If the taper didn't break your cycle, be prepared for a very pissed off beast. So I would wait until the pred taper was done and gone before I fooled around with the verapamil dosage.
A pred taper is usually given to stop the attacks while you titrate up on a preventative med (like Verapamil). For most, it doesn't actually break the cycle. Though it very well may. Once you are off the pred taper and PF for a day or two, you could then begin to skip a day on the verapamil. However 180mg is such a low dose that I don't think it will matter much where your CH is concerned. You could just stop taking it. Good luck... -Dennis- |
Title: Re: Question about Verapamil taper. Post by red ryder on Nov 20th, 2009 at 12:50pm
By the way the verapamil is capsule form and not tablet, that is why I can't just cut it in half. I am down to taking only 20 mg of prednisone daily is that enough to usualy hold the beast at bay, or would he have usualy broke through full force. I am still getting pretty heavy shadows, but no full hits. I come off the prednisone completely in 3 days. Who knows I might get slammed and have to increase the verap. I guess in that case i could have my doc switch to the tablet sustained form.
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Title: Re: Question about Verapamil taper. Post by Marc on Nov 20th, 2009 at 1:31pm DennisM1045 wrote on Nov 20th, 2009 at 1:18pm:
Now that's some smart advice! Marc |
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