Hi All,
In the past, I knew my cycle was over because the headaches stopped - duh!

However, in this cycle, a 480 mg / day Verapamil dose started blocking headaches after a few days. I've had three isolated attacks since then, but it's been two week since then:
02/08 - 02/12: 4 days of shadows, 3 days of attacks
* Verapamil starts on 02/12
02/13 - 02/19: 2 days pain free, 5 days of attacks
02/20 - 02/27: 6 pain free days, one attack after long flight
02/27 - 03/06: 7 pain free days
02/06 - 02/13: 7 pain free days

So, the Verapamil put up a good "block" but it's hard to know whether or not I'm actually done -- e.g. can maybe have a drink, or can ask my doctor if I can halve my Verapamil dose (constipation).

I sometimes still feel activity in my CH area (left eye and temple) but I wouldn't call these shadows.

Maybe some of you can share your stories about a cycle ending while having a good block from Verapamil.

Thanks!
-Rob

I was on Topamax for the first four years of CH non stop.

My new Neuro put me on Verapamil last summer. Took it every day. Went into cycle couple weeks before Christmas. Felt it was ended midway through Feb. Stopped the Verapamil a couple weeks later. The Beast returned. Back on the big V!

Personal lesson learned. Like Bob said, everyone is different and experience is the best teacher.

All the best, Iddy

14 days pain free and without shadows and I begin cutting back on the verapamil.

I've used verapamil for my last 4 cycles (was using Sansert before that).  In the past I've been taking 600mg per day and that worked great.  However, this cycle I was still getting hit hard and had to up my dose to 720mg.  For the past 20 years my cycles were 4-6 weeks long, well, I'm almost 12 weeks into this cycle and really have no answers as to why.  I'm still getting hit about once a day so I'm not going to risk tapering off the meds until all is clear for a couple of weeks.