Yes they can be taken at the same time, and many even start on prednisone (high dose tapering to nil over 10-14 days). What concerns me is the possibility of your husband taking prednisone over longer periods of time. It shouldn't be done. Two, maybe three weeks tops. It should be used for immediate relief while another preventative(s) build up to theraputic levels in the system.

When I start a new cycle, I start taking lithium and prednisone at the same time, tapering off the prednisone as mentioned above. This used to be lithium, verapamil, and prednisone together, but I've stopped taking the verapamil altogether because of the sexual side-effects (and it ain't the erection that lasts more than four hours, if you get my drift).

Yes, the Pred is taken for one cycle and it generally stops the attacks quickly. BUT--at the same time you start the Verap. because it takes some days to become effective but it works to reduce the frequency/intensity of attacks for the long run.
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Headache. 2004 Nov;44(10):1013-8.   

Individualizing treatment with verapamil for cluster headache patients.

Blau JN, Engel HO.

    Background.-Verapamil is currently the best available prophylactic drug for patients experiencing cluster headaches (CHs). Published papers usually state 240 to 480 mg taken in three divided doses give good results, ranging from 50% to 80%; others mention higher doses-720, even 1200 mg per day. In clinical practice we found we needed to adapt dosage to individual's time of attacks, in particular giving higher doses before going to bed to suppress severe nocturnal episodes. A few only required 120 mg daily. We therefore evolved a scheme for steady and progressive drug increase until satisfactory control had been achieved. Objective.-To find the minimum dose of verapamil required to prevent episodic and chronic cluster headaches by supervising each individual and adjusting the dosage accordingly. Methods.-Consecutive patients with episodic or chronic CH (satisfying International Headache Society (IHS) criteria) were started on verapamil 40 mg in the morning, 80 mg early afternoon, and 80 mg before going to bed. Patients kept a diary of all attacks, recording times of onset, duration, and severity. They were advised, verbally and in writing, to add 40 mg verapamil on alternate days, depending on their attack timing: with nocturnal episodes the first increase was the evening dose and next the afternoon one; when attacks occurred on or soon after waking, we advised setting an alarm clock 2 hours before the usual waking time and then taking the medication. Patients were followed-up at weekly intervals until attacks were controlled. They were also reviewed when a cluster period had ended, and advised to continue on the same dose for a further 2 weeks before starting systematic reduction. Chronic cluster patients were reviewed as often as necessary. Results.-Seventy consecutive patients, 52 with episodic CH during cluster periods and 18 with chronic CH, were all treated with verapamil as above. Complete relief from headaches was obtained in 49 (94%) of 52 with episodic, and 10 (55%) of 18 with chronic CH; the majority needed 200 to 480 mg, but 9 in the episodic, and 3 in the chronic group, needed 520 to 960 mg for control. Ten, 2 in the episodic and 8 in the chronic group, with incomplete relief, required additional therapy-lithium, sumatriptan, or sodium valproate. One patient withdrew because verapamil made her too tired, another developed Stevens-Johnson syndrome, and the drug was withdrawn. Conclusions.-Providing the dosage for each individual is adequate, preventing CH with verapamil is highly effective, taken three (occasionally with higher doses, four) times a day. In the majority (94%) with episodic CH steady dose increase under supervision, totally suppressed attacks. However in the chronic variety only 55% were completely relieved, 69% men, but only 20% women. In both groups, for those with partial attack suppression, additional prophylactic drugs or acute treatment was necessary. (Headache 2004;44:1013-1018).
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Are you comfortable that your doc is experienced and skilled in treating headache? Doesn't sound like it from your information. If you have the option:


LOCATING HEADACHE SPECIALIST

1. Search the OUCH site (button on left) for a list of recommended M.D.s.

2. Yellow Pages phone book: look for "Headache Clinics" in the M.D. section and look under "neurologist" where some docs will list speciality areas of practice.

3.  Call your hospital/medical center. They often have an office to assist in finding a physician. You may have to ask for the social worker/patient advocate.

4. Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or ; On-line screen to find a physician.

5. Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or Look for "Physician Finder" search box.  Call 1-800-643-5552; they will send a list of M.D.s for your state.I suggest using this source for several reasons: first, we have read several messages from people who, even seeing neurologists, are unhappy with the quality of care and ATTITUDES they have encountered; second, the clinical director of the Jefferson (Philadelphia) Headache Clinic said, in late 1999, that upwards of 40%+ of U.S. doctors have poor training in treating headache and/or hold attitudes about headache ("hysterical female disorder") which block them from sympathetic and effective work with the patient; third, it's necessary to find a doctor who has experience, skill, and a set of attitudes which give hope of success. This is the best method I know of to find such a physician.

Marc wrote on Jul 12^th, 2009 at 8:44pm:

Yes.

No, not really. I guess I figure it's so basic that sometimes I just gloss right over it.

Kay - Has he tried high-flow oxygen administered through a non-rebreather apparatus to abort individual attacks?

We haven't tried O2 in the correct way yet.  We have a tank, but the regulator only goes to 8 ml.  It also doesn't have the right mask.  We did tape shut the holes.  Based on all the reading from this site, 8 ml and the wrong mask seem to be the problem.  When he saw the current doctor (just a family practice guy), he said he wouldn't prescribe it because insurance won't cover it. 

The good news is that I do have pretty decent health insurance.  We have access to a "health advocate" - someone with some amount of medical training that's suppose to help with claims, find a good doc, etc.  I'm going to call them first thing in the morning. 

I'm wondering what the thoughts are on neuro vs. a headache clinic vs a pain management clinic.  My insurance allows us to go to a specialist without a referal (assuming the doc is an "approved" provider).  I'm going to call a  couple of difference places in the morning.  We live in Omaha NE (a town of around 1 million) so you'd think there would be more selection.  I've only found 1 headache clinic and only a couple of pain management specialists. 

If we can't get the O2 from a doctor, then tomorrow we'll start exploring buying the welder's tank and regulator and mask on-line.