My Neuro has me taking 80mg of Verapamil daily as a preventative.  I should mention that in addition to CH, I also have optical migraines, which are not painful at all...they just cause a minor disturbance in my vision (flashes etc.).  It is my understanding that Verapamil is a common treatment for both conditions. 

I've read on the boards that many people only take Verapamil during and post an attack.  I was wondering if anyone other sufferers take it as a preventative...or if I should revisit this topic with my doctor.  I don't want to take medications that aren't necessary.
Thanks!

Sonia-MA wrote on Feb 13^th, 2010 at 3:00pm:

My Neuro has me taking 80mg of Verapamil daily as a preventative.  I was wondering if anyone other sufferers take it as a preventative...

That's pretty much its purpose as a course of action. 

Yes.

Verapamil is a very common preventative, taken daily while in cycle to reduce attacks. The dose you are at is very low. Some on the board go as high as 960 mg a day before they get relief. That being said, do not increase or decrease your dosing without consulting your doc as it requires monitoring.

Joe

An effective dose for me is 720 mg per day.

I am taking 40 mg a day divided into 2 doses.  I am not in cycle.  I am also undecided on what to do, but see my doctor in a couple of weeks.

Quote:

I am not in cycle

Then why do you continue to take it?

seaworthy wrote on Feb 13^th, 2010 at 9:29pm:

Quote: I am not in cycle Then why do you continue to take it?

I am afraid to quit.  Ever since I started it 2 years ago, when I taper, I have slight shadows.  I never had this happen before I started it for the first time 2 cycles ago.  That is why I am seeing a new doctor, more specific for Clusters in 2 weeks.  I have waited about 6 months to see her.  All I can be certain of is that until 2 years ago, my head problems were completely over after my cycle ended...and since then, I have occasional faint shadows between cycles. 

The question of taking Verap when not in an active period is one I've never seen discussed in the medical literature. I know of a couple of people who stay on it 100% of the time, regardless of the state of the CH.

Whether your low dose actually keeps a cycle from emrging is an interesting question. Unfortunately, even if you never have an attack while using 80mg daily does not prove the med is the cause. We would need some large scale trials to get some insight into that one.

I take 120 mg twice a day whether I am in or out of cycle.  I have tried to get off of it out of cycle and my headaches have come back immediately, and stopped as soon as Igot back on it so I just stay on it all the time.  I have always been that way no maater what preventative I have been on, so I don't think it's trait of the verapamil.  I have come to the conclusion I am a chronic suffererer (not episodic as I always thought) that is mostly controlled by preventatives with episodes that can't be controlled by anything.

Chronic;

Attacks recur over >1 year without remission periods or with remission periods lasting <14 days

I was taking 240mg daily for the last 3 years but had to stop after a heart attack in December, as far as i'm aware this had nothing to do with Verapamil.
It seemed to me to be the answer from severe attacks but who knows!.
They have warned me however that i can't take it with the medication i'm now on as it could prove fatal.
Bisoprolol 5mg
Ramipril 2.5mg
Atorvastatin 80mg
Clopidogrel 75mg
They gave me citalopram 20mg to help with ch. which are anti depressants.
To be honest i really don't know anymore.
You'll try anything to keep it away.
Colin

i take 480 mg/daily and have done so for about 5-6 years. i dont experience any side effects. i used to only take it during my cycle and then taper off afterwards. 6 years ago when i tried tapering off the headache came back. my dr. agreed there is no harm in staying on all the time so that is what i have done. i have found that my remissions are longer, but when i do have a cycle, like now, i have more headaches daily then i used to. i too am scared to stop taking it.

I utilize it as a preventative - My standard dosage is 720mg Verapamil combined with 1200mg Lithium Carbonate daily.  This appears to be the threshold of my tolerance.  More Lithium causes severe hand tremors, more Verapamil causes significant and painful leg swelling.   

I'm never fully off of these drugs but with input from my Neurologist, I increase and decrease dosages along with CH activity.  During peroids of reduced activity I've managed to get down to 300mg Lithium Carbonate/240mg Verapamil  without sudden spikes in CH activity.  Going to lower dosages has led to rapid increases in CH activity.  In the reverse, as CH activity incrases I increase up to my tolerance level.

I've also experimented with dosages schedules to retain some control.  If a consistent shift in the time(s) CH activity occurs.  I shift my dosage schedule to try and stay an hour or two ahead of attacks.  It's a constant battle to retain control but the results are well worth the work.

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burnt-toast
(Tom)