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Steambug

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smoking to abort an attack
Mar 9^th, 2009 at 9:06am

Probably a strange thing to ask...

I quit smoking 6 months ago, which helped a lot with various health problems I have. I did used to notice though that if I got a horrendous headache, a cigarette would sometimes stop it in its tracks before it peaked.

This past 2 weeks I've been having a cycle starting 7:30 - 8pm every evening for 2 hours, on saturday I just couldnt stand it anymore, I was at a friend's house (she smokes) and in the middle of bashing my hand on my head said to her could I have a cigarette? I smoked it and half way through smoking it - it aborted the headache!

Obviously im not advocating smoking and I had thought it made clusters worse from what I've read?? I assume the nicotine constricts the blood vessels like triptans do, but Ive only ever had tablet triptans which dont work for me, Im thinking they just dont act fast enough.

Wondered if anyone else had experienced this? I will tell my neuro anyway, but Ive no intention of starting smoking again - hard enough to give up the first time!

Lolly

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George

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Re: smoking to abort an attack
Reply #1 - Mar 9^th, 2009 at 10:04am

It's an interesting observation.

Although nicotine has never actually aborted an attack for me, smoking during an attack (I'd never manage it during a bad hit, you understand--just a mild to moderate one) seems to have the effect of "freezing" it in place.

It's a little hard to explain, but I'll do my best.

The attack will get no worse for a while, but no better either. After 20 minutes or so, it will resume its course--improving or worsening.

For that reason, I avoid smoking during a hit. It just seems to postpone what the thing is going to inevitably do.

Smoking afterwards seems to make no difference.

Clusterheads have a complicated relationship with nicotine. I don't think we entirely understand it.

Best,

George

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midwestbeth CH.com Sponsor Offline Posts: 1123 Edwardsville, IL Gender:	Re: smoking to abort an attack Reply #2 - Mar 9^th, 2009 at 10:10am I smoke and when I feel a ch coming on, I cannot even think of smoking or being around cigarette smoke. Smoke makes the pain much worse for me. That being said, as soon as the hit is completely over, I want a cig! Beth
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Kimmie CH.com Veteran Offline OW!! Posts: 187 US Gender:	Re: smoking to abort an attack Reply #3 - Mar 9^th, 2009 at 12:17pm i smoke more during my hits. I would smoke in my sleep if someone could hold the cigarette for me. Probably not a good thing, but it helpd with the tremendous stress that comes with CH. If you don't smoke....stay that way!!
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Ray

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Re: smoking to abort an attack
Reply #4 - Mar 9^th, 2009 at 12:51pm

Nicotine is a vasoconstrictor, that is why it raises blood pressure. I can't smoke during a major hit, but through a minor one I can.

As smoking is a rollercoaster of vasoconstriction and wearing off (vasodialation), it is probably somewhat worse to do by someone who suffers from vascular headaches.

Just my humble opinion,

Ray

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Chad

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Re: smoking to abort an attack
Reply #5 - Mar 9^th, 2009 at 3:12pm

When I use to smoke 4+ years ago, I would almost be gauranteed
to have a cluster immediately following the cigarette, only during cycle of course. Since I have quit, the intensity, frequency, duration, and total cycle time has been reduced. I seriously think quitting has helped me in many ways.

I do however miss that celebration cigarette after defeating the beast after each hit.

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Steambug

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Re: smoking to abort an attack
Reply #6 - Mar 10^th, 2009 at 4:24pm

thanks, thats interesting, Im not going to smoke again, I think desperation just got the better of me on saturday, in the past having a cigarette did not always abort it, sometimes it did. On balance I'd rather avoid them, didnt enjoy smoking it which has to be a good thing.

Doc has just given me some rizatriptan wafers says they will act faster than the tablets so going to give them a go, tonight has been better though (normally would be bang in the middle of one right now), all I have is a very bad 'ordinary headache' tonight, since going back on the verapamil recently so fingers crossed that is going to help long term

thanks,

Lolly

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« Last Edit: Mar 10^th, 2009 at 4:26pm by Steambug »

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Brew

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Re: smoking to abort an attack
Reply #7 - Mar 10^th, 2009 at 9:39pm

Steambug wrote on Mar 10^th, 2009 at 4:24pm:

Doc has just given me some rizatriptan wafers says they will act faster than the tablets...

Actually, since rizatriptan is absorbed in the gut (not the lining of the mouth), they don't work appreciably faster. When the wafer hits your gut it's already mostly liquified, whereas a tablet has to dissolve, so there's maybe a 5-minute advantage with the wafer. Still about 25-30 minutes before it's working.

The wafers were designed more for convenience.

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Steambug

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Re: smoking to abort an attack
Reply #8 - Mar 13^th, 2009 at 5:05pm

thanks, I discovered that they really dont help, posted in 'getting to know ya' about how rubbish my GP/doc app was today, different doc from last app, this one didnt want to know about O2 and said there was no point in trying a different form of sumatriptan, have rung my neuro's office, said they would get him to call me or see me

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BrettK

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Re: smoking to abort an attack
Reply #9 - Mar 17^th, 2009 at 3:03pm

I ca

n't really speak to the smoking because I quit 4 months ago while out of cycle. Before that, I went on verapamil SR twice daily and that's really helped decrease the intensity of the CHs now that I'm back in cycle. But when I did smoke and wasn't on verapamil, I'd swear a cig helped. But I'm like you, I'm not starting again. It was too tough to quit in the first place.

The rizatriptan (Maxalt) works well for me but they are a last resort because I get quite irritable with the Maxalt in me. I found that drinking about 12 oz of water gets the maxalt in the gut and working much faster.

My main abortive is Soma; a muscle relaxant. It stops the radiation of the pain from my eye to my temples and neck. I'm a little loopy after the soma, but it's better than being a bit**! Cheesy

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Guiseppi CH.com Moderator CH.com Alumnus Offline San Diego to Florida 05-16-2011 Posts: 12063 SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA USA Gender:	Re: smoking to abort an attack Reply #10 - Mar 17^th, 2009 at 3:40pm If you haven't tried oxygen...please consider it. Read the link on the left, used correctly I cna abort an attack in as little as 6-8 minutes. It's certainly worth a shot! Joe
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Steambug CH.com Junior Offline clock watching Posts: 63 Worcestershire, UK	Re: smoking to abort an attack Reply #11 - Mar 17^th, 2009 at 6:38pm I just wish my GP was prepared to prescribe oxygen, he has said no waiting to hear back from my neuro
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