Has anyone ever had experience where by taking imitrex one time daily has extended the time period of their cluster.  I normally get my cluster for 1 month and now it is almost two months.  is this a result of the imitrex.  should i not use it daily?

There has been some discussions about that. Not sure of any scientific evidence as the problem with CH is it tends to morf itself over time.

There is much anecdotal evidence that this is the case. Many here report an extended cycle period with heavy Rx drug use (not just Imitrex, but the use of preventatives like verapamil, lithium, topomax, to name a few).

I'm one who strongly believes imitrex extends my cycle. Faced with a hard hitting attack, away from my trusty oxygen,.....I immediately turn to the imitrex.  I guess you get to pick your poison!

Joe

Take a look at the PDF file, below.

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interesting concept, but since very little research is out there to help, it is always good to get a consensus of peoples experiences. there is no such thing as "fact" for cluster headaches.  each has their own experience.  even our pain is subjective. 

Great article/comment regarding the anectdotal feedback on this subject.

With each year I learn less and more about these things. My cycles have had periods of greater frequency, less frequency, longer gaps and shorter gaps in between cycles. More intense hits, less intense hits. Cycles where if I looked at any number of foods and beverages I would get hit - others where I can drink beer and red wine and not induce a hit.

The point - just when I think I seem to have a grasp of understanding some aspect of them - they change. The constants for me are that Oxygen works most of the time and Imitrex works after that doesn't or when I don't have access to O2 - FOR ME.

I can't imagine not utilizing either of these abortives - even if the potential for a lengthened cycle came with the Imitrex.

I have to say that my last cycle before this one ran from April of 07 to August of 08 to the point I thought I had gone chronic. I had found a cheap source of 50 mg imitrex tabs that I used as a preventive during that cycle. I took them an hour before an event such as lunch or dinner with customers (I am in outside sales and I do a LOT of networking) attending a baseball game, or playing golf. If I knew that I still would not be able to get to my 02 I would take another 2 hours into whatever it was I was doing up to 4 times that day/evening for a total of 200mg some days. While this allowed me to do my job I truly believe this helped push my cycle out to the point that it even went  away for a week and then came back on the other side of my face. I had never had a cycle that lasted for a year and a half. I really thought that I had learned how to manage the beast but after reading a lot of anecdotal information I think I caused the length of that cycle. Has anyone else tried imitrex tabs as a preventative (by the way it worked to the point I could have a drink without triggering an attack)? I am not recommending this just adding my anecdotal information to the thread, I would trade a shorter cycle than do what I did last cycle. I have not touched trex for almost a month now due to trying a cluster buster and that is going well. My 2 cents.


David

I think seasonal and david gave great responses.  I would tend to agree with david that the use of imitrex daily extended his cycle.  Also, it seems that the way to handle this without the use of heavy meds is keep 02 handy and imitrex when it is not handy.