I am in my 60s, and have suffered with cluster heads since I was 33. The only relief was from Ibuprofen, however, my doctor has taken me off due a marker coming up against my kidney's.

I have been prescribed all the standard drugs with no effect, and am now in agony with the CHs and the only relief are ice-packs.

Are there any drugs available, similar to Ibuprofen, that will help.

Thank you,

Daphne

In general Ibruprofen doesn't work for CH. Sometimes my episodes start slowly in that I have a mid level permanent headache for a month before the CH starts, usually on a trigger (beer, nasal sprays, pseudofed).
Ibruprofen works on the pre cluster headache but has no effect whatsoever on CH.
Anti inflammatories that do are steroids, which are best taken whilst preventative meds are building up in your system.

If you are not currently taking any meds the herbal regime is reported to have a positive effect for some people.

Kudzu - 1000 mg, 2x per day (morning & night) 
Magnesium - 250 mg, 2x per day (morning & night) 
St. John's Wort - 300 mg, 2x per day (morning & night) 
Skullcap - 425 mg at bedtime 
Melatonin - 10 mg at bedtime 

Of course O2 neds to be your first port of call.

Whatever you decide check it out with your DR and on here where there is ahuge amount of knowledge and experience.

Wishing you PF.

Ellick.

Hi Daphene and welcome. Have you had a proper diagnoses by a doc who knows what CH's are? If so please ask to try o2. As Barbara said, it has about a 70% success rate among us, and yes me included.
I have a "M" tank at home in my bedroom with the mask attached and ready to go, and also an "E" tank (portable) I take with me and never let it out of my sight.

Also talk to your doc about a prevent. Before I was diagnosed by my neuro I was taking "8 hour time release Tylenol" and I was thinking they were working to stop my CH's. I was so wrong as the attack would hit and I would down two or three of these Tylonol's and then rock, weep and moan from anywhere from 30 mins. up to an hour or longer.

Little did I know the CH attack had run it's course and I thought it was the Tylenol that worked. I now take 480mg Verapamil daily as my prevent and it is working wonders for me during this cycle. There are lots of other prevents to try, but do discuss this with your doc and do not self medicate.

Please go to your left and click on the yellow o2 button, read it then print it off for your doc.

This forum is a wealth of knowledge and the folks here are so helpful and willing to help in a second. We are not doc's but people who share the same crippling pain so you are not alone with your pain anymore.

Again, welcome.

  Barry

Suggest you print the first link and discuss options with your doc. This is current thinking on treating cluster.
========
Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or

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)
================
Michigan Headache & Neurological Institute for another list of treatments and other articles:

Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or


 

Brew wrote on Feb 1^st, 2009 at 9:49am:


I'll be checking wikipedia for a new definition of "organ grinder".

Indocin is an NSAID similar to ibuprophen.  It can be tough on your stomach though.

The link Mystina posted has most of the info in that thread. If you have some additional questions, please ask!

What kind of a marker was it ?

- Best regards and PFDAN,
Rosa