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http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> Waiting for lithium to work? http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?num=1344889307 Message started by Joshua on Aug 13^th, 2012 at 4:21pm

Title: Waiting for lithium to work?
Post by Joshua on Aug 13^th, 2012 at 4:21pm

1 week in..here is the regimen
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20 mg pred (tapering down)
720mg verap (just raised from 600)
600mg lithium
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Gone from 2 headaches a day (probably pred was keeping them down to that) to now 4 and very painful shadows in between.
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Neuro said if lithium at 600 wasn't working, to go to 900. Is it too soon to make that call? 1 week in? Had my lith levels checked today, waiting on results.
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I take two 300mg pills twice a day, but might switch to 1 dose of 600mg at night to alleviate the side effects during the day.
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How long does it typically take to know if cluster is responding to lithium? I read after 4 days your level is your level on a certain dosage.
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Got my opti-mask today - so that is good news.

Title: Re: Waiting for lithium to work?
Post by Brew on Aug 13^th, 2012 at 4:24pm

10-14 days.

Title: Re: Waiting for lithium to work?
Post by Guiseppi on Aug 13^th, 2012 at 5:20pm

10 or so days for it to become effective for me. I've been using it over 20 years as my primary prevent. I would advise against taking the full dose at night. All the literature I was given stressed taking the doses at the assigned intrvalls every day. My fear is if you take the full dose at once, your body will just flush most of it out and your levels would drop. Would definitely speak to the doc before doing that.

Joe

Title: Re: Waiting for lithium to work?
Post by AppleNutClusters on Aug 13^th, 2012 at 7:39pm

I'm starting at a really low dose (150 mg per day) to start, so this could be psychosomatic, but does lithium cause any metallic taste or other taste disturbance that anyone knows of? I already have some disruption of taste due to recent ear surgery (that nerve runs right through the same spot), but since starting lithium, I've been more aware of tingling in my tongue and metallic taste to things. Much like when I was on topiramate (Topamax). Just wondering if this is a side effect others have noticed.

Title: Re: Waiting for lithium to work?
Post by Brew on Aug 13^th, 2012 at 7:45pm

I never noticed that myself.

Title: Re: Waiting for lithium to work?
Post by Joshua on Aug 13^th, 2012 at 7:53pm

Metallic taste is a side effect, I have noticed it too.

Title: Re: Waiting for lithium to work?
Post by Guiseppi on Aug 13^th, 2012 at 8:14pm

Another side effect I have avoided thus far! :D

Joe

Title: Re: Waiting for lithium to work?
Post by Brew on Aug 14^th, 2012 at 10:15am

wrote on Aug 14^th, 2012 at 9:08am:

But I have heard this has side effects.

Yes, it's called lithium toxicity, and if gone unchecked, it can kill you. Which is why it's so important to get regular blood work done.

Title: Re: Waiting for lithium to work?
Post by Joshua on Aug 15^th, 2012 at 6:39am

Lithium level back. 0.2. 8 days in that's kind of low. I also drink a TON of water, I always have, so that might be contributing to the lower levels.

Title: Re: Waiting for lithium to work?
Post by Joshua on Aug 16^th, 2012 at 9:16am

On 900mg now. 300 3x a day. Still getting very painful hits morning and night. I'm hoping the ramp up is still happening -- really need to get this under control.
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Just putting it out there...

Title: Re: Waiting for lithium to work?
Post by Joshua on Aug 17^th, 2012 at 1:45pm

Ok update - no headache today, and no shadow. Just that sore/burning which accompanies days of hits. I think I may be having a PF day so far b/c I used DHE/Migranal nasal spray yesterday, which many say is very long acting. OR it's the lithium kicking in. Either way, loving the no pain.