I need to see my neuro about new scripts. What are my alterantives?
I've done the Prednisone®, beta blockers [Inderal®, a.k.a. propanol], calcium blockers [Verapamil®] and Topamax®.
O2 never really worked for me.
Wondering about RC Seeds, shrooms or 'that' plant...can't remember the name.
Sorry for the duplicative nature of thsi thread, if there is one.
Suggestions are welcome.
TomM

Before we assume that you need a different med it would be helpful if you would give us, for each med you listed: dose & duration of using.

Bob, that list would be long a laborious. I've been dealing with clusters since 1993 and have used those meds and they worked except for the Verpamil.
It's the side effects I don't like:
Prednisone: moonface and weight gain
Verapamil: severe constipation
Topamax: every side effect they list I got but mostly hate the 'dumbing down effect'
Inderal: I thnk it went with the Prednisone but don't recall as I took it in 1995.
Does that help?

Inderal went out a long time ago for Cluster.

As an abortive, has worked very well for a number of us:

Headache 2001 Sep;41(8):813-6 

Olanzapine as an Abortive Agent for Cluster Headache.

Rozen TD.

Department of Neurology, Jefferson Headache Center/Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, Pa.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate olanzapine as a cluster headache abortive agent in an open-label trial. BACKGROUND: Cluster headache is the most painful headache syndrome known. There are very few recognized abortive therapies for cluster headache and fewer for patients who have contraindications to vasoconstrictive drugs. METHODS: Olanzapine was given as an abortive agent to five patients with cluster headache in an open-label trial. THE INITIAL OLANZAPINE DOSE WAS 5 MG, AND THE DOSE WAS INCREASED TO 10 MG IF THERE WAS NO PAIN RELIEF. THE DOSAGE WAS DECREASED TO 2.5 MG IF THE 5-MG DOSE WAS EFFECTIVE BUT CAUSED ADVERSE EFFECTS. To be included in the study, each patient had to treat at least two attacks with either an effective dose or the highest tolerated dose. RESULTS: Five patients completed the investigation (four men, one woman; four with chronic cluster, one with episodic cluster). Olanzapine reduced cluster pain by at least 80% in four of five patients, and TWO PATIENTS BECAME HEADACHE-FREE AFTER TAKING THE DRUG. Olanzapine typically alleviated pain within 20 minutes after oral dosing and treatment response was consistent across multiple treated attacks. The only adverse event was sleepiness. CONCLUSIONS: Olanzapine appears to be a good abortive agent for cluster headache. IT ALLEVIATES PAIN QUICKLY AND HAS A CONSISTENT RESPONSE ACROSS MULTIPLE TREATED ATTACKS. IT APPEARS TO WORK IN BOTH EPISODIC AND CHRONIC CLUSTER HEADACHE.

PMID 11576207 PubMed

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Olanzapine has a brand name of "Zyprexa" and is a antipsychotic. Don't be put off by this primary usage. Several of the drugs used to treat CH are cross over applications, that is, drugs approved by the FDA for one purpose which are found to be effective with unrelated conditions--BJ.
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See PDF file, below.

Also, START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE

Here is a link to read and print and take to your doctor.  It describes preventive, transitional, abortive and surgical treatments for CH. Written by one of the better headache docs in the U.S.  (2002)
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Michigan Headache & Neurological Institute for another list of treatments and other articles:

START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE
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Several surgical options are out there but outcome studies have not been encouraging unless as a final approach when the meds have been exhausted.
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I hope you are seeing a headache specialist rather than a general neurologist, internist,etc.

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. 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.

6. START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE NEW certification program for "Headache Medicine" by the United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties, an independent, non-profit, professional medical organization.
        Since this is a new program, the initial listing is limited and so it should be checked each time you have an interest in locating a headache doctor.







 

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Olanzapine,  huh? Zyprexa is made by Lilly. Lilly is my client and I set up the network @ trial for Lilly in 2003. Wonder if we have any samples.  :o

Bob, thanks for the tip. I will do some research on Olanzapine and the side effects. This way when I see my neurologist I can ask about it.
Thank you so much for the info. This is exactly the feedback I wanted.

Tom, in addition to Bob's always great advice, don't be afraid to speak with your neuro about that clusterbuster thing. I found my headache specialist quite open to the idea, especially given the studies conducted through Harvard medical. Good luck, and many blessings! lance

Lithium

Tom, the side effects of Olanzapine at the low doses/frequency of use for us has only lead to a couple of folks saying they were unhappy with feeling sleepy.

The formal literature, of course, will refer you to the effects of much large dosing and long term use for its ususal applications. The Rozen abstract is going to be most reasonable assessment for our purposes. Interestingly, in the last 2-4 years, Olan. has started to appear in lists of recommended meds for CH--which I take to be a vote both for effectiveness and safety.

Tom,

I've had pretty good success with Kudzu to replace Verap and Lithium.  It's over the counter (I get it online) and works much the same as Verap, but without the side effects.  There are several good threads on it if you will search for them, or PM me and I'll give you more info.

Jerry

Thank you to everyone.

Correct me, but from what I read Olanzapine is used as an abortive, right?

I want to look into Kudzu. thanks Jerry.