I find it odd that many people say the headaches aren't cluster headaches if Ibuprofen temporarily stops them.  I have had cluster headaches for a couple years now.  I am woken up by them at 3am and experience unexplainable pain every time. 

Right now I am at the beginning of a cycle.  It isn't to the stage of waking me up at night yet.  I do find that Ibuprofen when taken in large doses can silence the headache for a period of a few hours.  The only problem is instead of taking 1-2 pills, I have to take around 4 each time.  I do this until it gets to the period of it's peak and then I resort to shrooms to do the rest.

Ibuprofen, for me at least helps somewhat.

Ibuprofen can be helpful for the lwer level hits like you are describing, but taken consistendly at the levels you are describing can be harmful to the liver and kidneys.  I wouldn't wait for the cycle to get ramped up to dose.

Jerry

Dosing very early on can save you a lot of pain and a lot of OTC meds that'll eventually shred your innards.

Ibuprofen only affects your stomach lining.  Not kidneys and liver.  Tylenol, of course is a different story.

Not sure where you're getting your info, but the internet is chock full of long-term ibuprofen abuse testimonials, like this:


Quote:

There are also problems that can arise from taking ibuprofen long term. Ibuprofen can be prescribed by a doctor for long term pain management for conditions such as arthritis or chronic headaches (such as I experience). However, the consequences can be quite severe, at least in some patients. Some problems that can occur include chest pain, heart problems, gastrointestinal problems, liver problems, and kidney problems. These can be quite severe, and lead to some very detrimental symptoms.

"A physiciains asst, told me the Prescription kind can be if you take it every day, every 4 hours for weeks or months straight.But the over the counter kind is safer and can be taken daily as needed, so long a you don't exceed the daily dose allowed.

However, I've been taken 800-1600 mg every 4 hours around the clock, sometimes for weeks at a time, for nearly 2 yrs, now. I haven't had a problem. My doctor moved, and I just went a couple weeks ago to see this new guy(PA), and when i asked for a refill, that's what he told me.

He said he would only prescribe it for two weeks and would have to check my blood before he will give me any more. and I've never had a problem. he said prescription form are more potent and and can cause kidney and liver problems.

When i asked my last Doctor 2 yrs ago, she told me that even with as much as i was taking, i was well under requirements listed in the books, she told me out of all them, asprin,tylenol, etc, that actually Ibuprophen was the safest, and since it is the only one that also has an anti-inflammitory in in to reduce any swelling, if has more benefits, compared to asprin and bleeding ulcers, and complications from extended use of tylenol

When i told this new guy what my last DR. said, he argued with me. he said if you want to take over the counter Ibuprophen, fine, but if you want anything stronger, you'll have to get a blood test first."

The difference between prescription and OTC forms is only in the total dose per pill--the drug itself is the same.

This warning from MEDSCAPE.COM, a site aimed as medical professionals. "Black Box" warnings are the strongest one required by the FDA.

"Contraindications & Cautions
Black Box Warnings
Cardiovascular Risk

•NSAIDs may increase risk of serious cardiovascular thrombotic events, myocardial infarction (MI), & stroke, which can be fatal
•Risk may increase with duration of use
•Patients with risk factors for or existing cardiovascular disease may be at greater risk
•NSAIDs are contraindicated for perioperative pain in the setting of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery (increased risk of MI & stroke)
Gastrointestinal Risk

•NSAIDs increase risk of serious GI adverse events including bleeding, ulceration, & perforation of the stomach or intestines, which can be fatal
•GI adverse events may occur at any time during use & without warning symptoms
•Elderly patients are at greater risk for serious GI events"

One more rare, but still potential worry about high doses of ibuprofen... Ibuprofen-Induced Aseptic Meningitis in a Previously
Healthy Patient.  See attached.

V/R, Batch

---

There is risk of anything.  There is just as much of a risk of not using medication and having a severe panic attack from the extreme amount of pain cluster headaches cause. 

Sometimes it gets bad enough I have to remind myself to breathe.  I'll take my chances with the pills.

Dan153 wrote on Apr 26^th, 2011 at 11:05am:

There is risk of anything.  There is just as much of a risk of not using medication and having a severe panic attack from the extreme amount of pain cluster headaches cause.  Sometimes it gets bad enough I have to remind myself to breathe.  I'll take my chances with the pills.

    I'll take my chances with oxygen.  Have you given it a whack?

          Potter

No I have not given oxygen a whack because I can not bring a oxygen tank to work.  I would probably end up being laid off because my employer would think I have some serious cancer related illness.  I have to treat this discretely, which is why I stick to what I know, pills and shrooms.  The problem is shrooms are difficult to obtain for obvious reasons, so I have to go for long periods of relying on OTC ibuprofen to hold me over in hopes that I can dose before they come back in full force.

M'kay.

I'm out.

Do you guys take o2 tanks to work?

Bob Johnson wrote on Apr 26^th, 2011 at 8:26am:

The difference between prescription and OTC forms is only in the total dose per pill--the drug itself is the same. This warning from MEDSCAPE.COM, a site aimed as medical professionals. "Black Box" warnings are the strongest one required by the FDA. "Contraindications & Cautions Black Box Warnings Cardiovascular Risk •NSAIDs may increase risk of serious cardiovascular thrombotic events, myocardial infarction (MI), & stroke, which can be fatal •Risk may increase with duration of use •Patients with risk factors for or existing cardiovascular disease may be at greater risk •NSAIDs are contraindicated for perioperative pain in the setting of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery (increased risk of MI & stroke) Gastrointestinal Risk •NSAIDs increase risk of serious GI adverse events including bleeding, ulceration, & perforation of the stomach or intestines, which can be fatal •GI adverse events may occur at any time during use & without warning symptoms •Elderly patients are at greater risk for serious GI events"

yup yup yup

also, particularly if you're taking so much ibuprofen, you should consider doing the blood work that your health care provider recommended.  Ibuprofen, in some people, tends to increase the liver enzymes or, more frequently, decrease the kidney function. 

decreased kidney function is one of the reasons why this can be a dangerous med for people with congestive heart failure and such - dec kidney function increases risk for fluid retention, worsening congestive heart failure, inc blood pressure, etc...

maximum daily dose whether otc or prescription is 3200mg per day.  and even that for a short course.  higher than that is increasingly risky for GI effects and decreased kidney function.

I usually never go above 1800-2200

Since it isn't terrible yet, recently I've only been doing 600-1200. 

The main thing that bothers me is you cant really drink when you have CH or are taking that many pills.  I do enjoy a good drink on weekends.

Dan153 wrote on Apr 26^th, 2011 at 11:26am:

Do you guys take o2 tanks to work?

Yes I do. And whilst working away my employer is happy for me to expense my oxygen costs.

im too paranoid to do that

600 MG  ibuprofen taken at the 1st hint of hit works wonders for me.

A couple of years ago Ibuprofen "quit" working for me.  That is when I finally went to a Doc and got prescribed topomax.   

after some time off,  Ibuprofen helps again.  I carry them in my pocket.   If it works....   do it,  don't abuse it ; and remember that it may not work someday.   

Like you,  I had to take some larger doses in the past to kill the beast, and my gut felt it too.   But all better now.

We're all just lookin' for what works, you know what I mean? So if ibuprofen is doin' it for ya, good on ya! But for those of us who have been around the scrip block a decade or two, we're saying there are other, better ways of providing preventative and abortive interventions than any NSAID can offer...O2 among the best!  And yes, I take my E tank everywhere. You might be paranoid, but my guess is you're just embarrassed. The tank is an admission of frailty and vulnerability...you're essentially carrying a crutch and everyone can see it. But once you find the relief properly administered O2 can bring...you'll never want to leave home without it again. As far as alcohol goes...it's been over 20 years since I was able to do anything more than have an occasional drink...probably good for me in the long run...and every once in awhile I'll say screw it and have one...and then wonder why in the world I was so stupid. Pain avoidance is a powerful behavioral modifier, know what I mean? Blessings. lance

I'd personally be wary of it when there are other effective methods. I always keep a sumatriptan nasal spray in my car, coat pocket; wife's handbag, those kinda places. I used to make Ibuprofen and it gives you nose bleeds and all sorts if you get too much. Also my grandad died of a stomach ulcer from too many Ibuprofen for too long and that was recommended by his doctors. Not worth it for me.

Go to the "Getting to Know Ya" board . . . at the top in the locked topic section . .  . "Letter to Employers and Colleagues"

Copy this, show it to your employer and ask if an 02 tank would make him uncomfortable, also advising him that 02 could/would make your "time away from the desk" a minimal inconvenience.

First, you'll have to get 02 and an Optimask and prove to yourself how rapidly you can abort if used at the onset of attack.

I've found that using my 02 anywhere/everywhere, especially when having a triggered, rapidly ramping attack, have helped many people over the years identify their pain or their friend's/relative's pain ("my brother has headaches like that", or "one of my oldest friends has had dancing attacks like that for years"), especially once I describe what's happening and why the 02 works.  And of course I insist they write down this website and forward to their friend/relative.

Get the 02 . . . copy the letter.

   Be Safe,   PFDANs

      Richard

Dan153 wrote on Apr 26^th, 2011 at 11:20am:

I have to treat this discretely, which is why I stick to what I know, pills and shrooms.

Something a little easier to find :)

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