Hi everyone,

I have had almost a constant non stop headache since I can remember (about 22 years) and very bad headache/migraine spells of up to 6 months. I have tried many different types of drugs to stop this or at most reduce this.

Nothing I have tried at the moment has done much at all and im coming to the end of my patience with them  :'(

The latest thing I have tried is Pizotifen 3mg's along side solpodol (pain killers), the Pizotifen only seems to make me sleepy and the Solpodol while at first was quite good now doesnt seem to work at all. The Pizotifen has slightly reduced the severity of the headaches but still they are there as a constant murmer in the background of my head.

I have surrended to the fact that I am always going to have this constant non stop slight pain in my head and just have to live with it - but its the spells of great pain headaches I cant stand still - what has been the most effective pain reduction for you as I am going back to trial and error in an attempt to stop these before I go out of my mind

Thanks

A non-stop, 22-year low grade headache is not a symptom of CH. Have you been diagnosed with CH? I'm not sure what to tell you as I've not experienced what you have. How about a different doctor, a headache specialist?

Yeah the background headaches are different

Its the times I get great pain at the front of my head - nerologist has said it is CH

Does this greater pain at the front of your head present only on one side or on both sides of your head?

Its appears on the left hand side of my head

Wow, man. I've got nothing for you. I'm sure someone will come along who's more knowledgeable than I about the meds you speak of and your condition. Sorry.

Many take melatonin at night to reduce or prevent or minimalize the ch at night.  Red bull taken at onset has helped some abort their ch.  Have you considered reading START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE to learn how to try some natural methods? Are you on oxygen?  Have you tried verapamil and/or lithium or topamax or elavil?  These are more popular sucessfull treatments for ch.  Let us know what you have tried in the past.

Pizotifen is a drug used to prevent Migraines.  I have a hard time with a Neurologist diagnosing you as having CH with the symptoms you have described as this doesn't sound like CH except for the one-sidedness.

I would see another Dr. for a better diagnosis?  22-year low grade headache doesn't fit with CH at all.

If you do now have CH, ask your neuro for a scrip for oxygen - you can read up on it pretty much everywhere in this forum.

But it sounds to me like you really ought to head to a headache center.  If you have insurance, consider the Diamond Clinic in Chicago.  If you have money, consider the Michigan Head Pain & Neurological Institute.

Linda_Howell wrote on Jan 22^nd, 2010 at 12:39pm:

Pizotifen is a drug used to prevent Migraines.  ...

Pizotifen is a serotonin modulator like methysergide, and is recognized for use in treating cluster headaches (although it is considered a third string choice, not usually on the front line).

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[quote author=6D637D64080 link=1264163146/0#0 date=1264163146]Hi everyone,

I have had almost a constant non stop headache since I can remember (about 22 years) and very bad headache/migraine spells of up to 6 months. I have tried many different types of drugs to stop this or at most reduce this.

Nothing I have tried at the moment has done much at all and im coming to the end of my patience with them  :'(

MY POST: I have similar chronic head pain where it doesn't go away and always seems to be there but the intensity may fluctuate if I exert myself. Recently I had been working with a pain group and they offered IV Therapy. After trying several IV treatments with various anesthesias like propiflo, my doctor and I came across one that really does give you some relief. It was ketimine (sp). The medicine was IVed in over about 90 min and I would start to have relief as soon as it hit my blood and it would last for about 2 hrs and then quickly deplete. It would actually completely make my pain go away for 20-30 min which I had not experienced for at least 3 yrs.  But my doctor said some people get weeks of relief after just one IV session. So it might be worth a try if you can find someone offering it. I will warn you though that when you are undergoing the IV therapy with Ketamine you may experience considerable amounts of relief you will be confused or spaced out while its being pumped into you. Not so much a dopy feeling like opiates its actually a feeling that is unlike anything I have ever experienced. As a warning though if you have an addictive personality this drug can be habit forming, but sometimes I think you deserve relief. I hope this helps.