I'm a few days (maybe a week) into a new cycle (always November, but, started a little early this year).

So far, the beast has reared it's ugly head and has been relatively mild....this bout is kicking in at just gone 5am (the last two nights it has hit at 5.11am and 5.12am - I can be a very late owl).

The days when I've been asleep at that time, luckily, it hasn't woken me, and I've been hit by a fast fading remenants of the beast when waking a while after...

I am STILL waiting to see the neurologist (almost 5 months and counting), and cannot get 02 (presumably until the neuro has officially diagnosed my condition).

So, I'm given Sumatriptan nasal spray.  It's reasonably effective.

So far, while the headaches hurt, they are not at a level where I take Sumatriptan.  (I save it for the most severe CHs).

My question is this - if I get caught out, and have been drinking alcohol, is it at all safe to take Sumatriptan?  There is scant information on this that I can find and the little information is conflicting.

The same question as well for interactions between Sumatriptan and cannabis....for which I can find no information at all.

Thanks in advance....

Quit drinking and smoking dope.

             Potter

Potter wrote on Nov 4^th, 2010 at 10:55pm:

Quit drinking and smoking dope.              Potter

If I'm in cycle and are susceptable I don't do eithor.  AT ALL.

All I'm asking for is facts in case I do get caught out unexpectedly.

Have a pop and don't inhale.

             Potter

I haven't heard of any problems with using sumatriptan with cannabis, and from experience, I have had no problem using imitrex injectable after I have been drinking. It still killed the beast very quickly.

Joe

Cannabis is a vaso-dilator so it's likely to make a CH worse.

This is the opposite of oxygen which works as a vaso-constrictor to kill CHs.

Thanks, Guiseppi & Mike.

I'll second what Mike said about Cannabis - in my experience, it can make a CH worse.

Slightly unusual, while cannabis doesn't seem to act as a trigger for me, if I've had a toke, I often get the beast in spades the *next* day.

Alcohol, however, maes no difference one way the other for me....but, it's nice to know that I can still take my meds if I get caught out (probobly for the next cycle rather than this one).

Good news,I think..

1 joint= 10.00 dollars
6 pak beer=8.00 dollars
1 Imitrex nasal blast=20.00 dollars

Relief= priceless

:D

Mark, just curious what kind of alcohol you drink. I ask because some, like me, can't touch any alcohol or we get hit. Others can drink certain types, clear liquor for instance, and not get hit, but red wine will cream them! Just being nosey and curious! ;)

Joe

Joe,Mark, not to but in but, 2 beers and wammo,also tried rum and coke same thing. Never tried wine,but if I did it would be Boones Farm,that would take me back to the 70's in high school before this CH crap. :)

Sounds like me...any alcohol on cycle, just asking fer it! >:(

Joe

MIKE: Goadsby's work has changed the understanding of how CH arises.....
====

J Clin Neurosci. 2010 Mar 11.

What has functional neuroimaging done for primary headache ... and for the clinical neurologist?
Sprenger T, Goadsby PJ.

UCSF Headache Centre, Department of Neurology, University of California, 1701 Divisadero St, Suite 480, San Francisco, CA 94115, USA.

Our understanding of mechanisms involved in primary headache syndromes has been substantially advanced using functional neuroimaging.

THE DATA HAVE HELPED ESTABLISH THE NOW-PREVAILING VIEW OF PRIMARY HEADACHE SYNDROMES, SUCH AS MIGRAINE AND CLUSTER HEADACHE, AS BRAIN DISORDERS WITH NEUROVASCULAR MANIFESTATIONS, NOT AS DISORDERS OF BLOOD VESSELS.

PMID: 20227279 [PubMed]

Mike NZ wrote on Nov 4^th, 2010 at 11:49pm:

Cannabis is a vaso-dilator so it's likely to make a CH worse. This is the opposite of oxygen which works as a vaso-constrictor to kill CHs.

I second that!
Found out the hard way several times in college, LOL!  Cigarettes did the same for me as well.  Smoke in general....whether it is ganja, tabacco, second and even third hand smoke, leaves etc... ALL trigger CH for me.

Guiseppi wrote on Nov 5^th, 2010 at 8:26am:

Mark, just curious what kind of alcohol you drink. I ask because some, like me, can't touch any alcohol or we get hit. Others can drink certain types, clear liquor for instance, and not get hit, but red wine will cream them! Just being nosey and curious! ;) Joe

Hi, Joel,

I drink Spectra.  It's little known outside of the UK, but, the better known equivalent is Diamond White.  A can is typically 500ml, 7.5% proof.

I also like a drop of port.
As already said, doesn't seem to affect me one way or the other when it comes to CH.

Hi Everyone,

My first post, I was just diagnosed last week.  I have been having attacks everyday now for over 10 weeks.  The pain is amazing.  Imitrex pills do the job, but if I do not take them early enough it takes exactly 22 minutes to knock the pain down.  (sometimes longer if it gets a good head of steam going)  I really hate the way it just hangs around in the background teasing me.  It is like it’s saying, “I am going to get you, just waiting for the right moment.”  Last week I was doing an interview and it struck, I was able to keep my face calm(barely) but as soon as my eye started swelling and leaking it was obvious something was wrong.  So glad to have found this site, I thought I was going crazy.  Sorry to see so many others in the same profound pain.  It is interesting what a good motivator pain is, I went from a six pack a day to being scared to look at a drink for fear it might trigger an attack.  Just took an imitrex about a half hour ago, the attack woke me from what I had hoped would be a good nights sleep.  Just drank a cup of double espresso because the imitrex was 5 minutes late on relief, up all night now.  Anyway sorry for the rambling, just glad to have a place to vent.

Thanks,

Dean

Welcome to the board Dean, a bunch of suggestions!!

Read the oxygen info tab on the left. Once you get over the "weird idea" of using oxygen, it'll rapidly become your new best friend. I went from 90 minute rides to 6-8 minute aborts, rarely does the beast even reach a 3-4 level anymore. Has almost completely eliminated my imitrex useage.

Try and get the imitrex nasal spray, or better yet the injectables. The oral just take too danged long for the tummy to jack into your system.

Try an energy drink, any containing the combo of caffeine and taurine. Many can abort or at least really reduce an attack by chugging one at the start of an attack. Could even try downing the imitrex with a Red Bull to double the impact.

You didn't mention a preventative med, a med you take daily to reduce the number and or intesnity of your hits. Verapamil is the typical first try, I use lithium at 1200 mg a day it blocks 60-70% of my attacks.

Try taking 9 mg of melatonin 30 minutes before bed time. It's an over the counter sleep aid available at vitamin and health food stores, helps many avoid the wake up attacks. Give it a couple of days to kick in, may have to up or down the doseage a bit.

Are you working with a qualified headache specialist neuro? These things are rare and finding a knowledgeable doc can be a bear, no knock on your current doc but you're going to war against the beast armed with a small sling shot.  ;) There's so much better out here to help you. We HATE seeing the beast get the better of anyone.

Joe

Hey Mark.  I'm the same way.  Alcohol doesn't seem to affect me at all.  I have taken the sumatriptan with alcohol when I got caught one night with a new cycle, and asked a pharmacist before I did.  They said if I needed to take it, take it, and I did just fine.  Not that I would recommend it as a habit as I'm sure it's not particularly great on bp, but it was necessary.

Dont do what i just did, went out to a party last night two glasses of red wine and bang full on attack, popped a jab in all was ok, so i carried on at the party few more pints later and another attack, this is where it gets messy i think i'd had a little to much to drink and jabbed myself again, dont remember to much after that only, jabbing myself a third time at 4am and not getting rid of the pain which lasted till 7am. too much suma aint nice at all in aint gonna make that mistake again  :'(

i'll just add one more thing to my last post too much suma makes the headache worse, makes you very drowsy, you shake and it upsets your stomach noy funny at all

Thanks for the information G!

The o2 is working great, also on verapamil  and Depakote.  My insurance only covers 9 doses of imitrex, which sucks, so I am going to try breaking them in half.

Still feel it in the background and I always have a ringing in my ear now.

Quote:

My question is this - if I get caught out, and have been drinking alcohol, is it at all safe to take Sumatriptan?  There is scant information on this that I can find and the little information is conflicting. The same question as well for interactions between Sumatriptan and cannabis....for which I can find no information at all.

You will find, and as I read you already have, if you smoke pot or drink anywhere near your episode, you will be sorry. Have a coke and dont inhale ;D ;D ;D ;D
the bb

How long should I expect to feel like I am always going to have an attack?

deanofish wrote on Nov 30^th, 2010 at 3:29pm:

How long should I expect to feel like I am always going to have an attack?

Been about 15 years for me so far ;)

Quote:

Alcohol doesn't seem to affect me at all.  I have taken the sumatriptan with alcohol when I got caught one night with a new cycle, and asked a pharmacist before I did.

I just have to keep my mouth shut on this statement. :-X

Quote:

How long should I expect to feel like I am always going to have an attack?

That is a very good question. Most people wait at least 30 days post hit and shadow, before resuming alcohol consumtion. If your not experienced, it's hard to tell at onset and can get caught being hit while under the influence. A couple of beers is one thing. As your BAC increases so do your chances of problems with vaso-constrictors. I would do 02 and caffiene first, metabolize some alcohol then hit the trex if that dont work. I'm sure others will disagree to some extent ,as we are all a bit different. Same for the weed.
Discretion is the better part of Valor. Just say no.
the bb