Hi and welcome!

Others will be alone and no doubt comment on the Depakote, I can not since I have no experience with it.

I do however have experience with O2 as an abortive. Check out the O2 link on the left hand side, you'll be glad you did.

Bill

When you are off cycle, do not forget the beast! Because make no mistake, he will not forget you!

Get your oxygen prescription now. Depending on where you live you have to renew it every 12 months. On or off cycle, I have a garage full of E-tanks, and currently have 3 regulators, just in case one should stop working. Once you abort an attack with 02, you will never be without it.

The pill form of imitrex is not very effective for CH. The pain ratchets up too fast. You have to wait for the med to get absorbed by your tummy and into your blood stream. By then you're banging your head on the wall. That's another advantage to the oxygen, it is so fast acting. I use imitrex injectables when I'm caught away from my 02.

Anxiety as a trigger. That's a funny one. For many, they try to stay tense and up at all times. As soon as they relax, wam they get hit. Others, like me and sounds like maybe you, prolonged stress will actually bring on an attack.

I have never taken depakote. I've had great luck using lithium as my prevent for many years now. Verapamil is also quite popular here. Glad you found us. Do not drop the ball not. Read all you can here, get your med situation figured out and get your oxygen!

Joe

I have used Depakote; to no good effect. But everyone is different. I know we keep saying that almost to the point of triviality, but it is still true. Try it. If it works, great! If it doesn't, ditch it and try another preventative. For now, your list of potentials is quite long and it's just a matter of working through them until you do find one that works. It is now your avocation!

As to almost forgetting the beast. I agree, don't! It won't forget you. Your body cannot "recall" pain. There are no cellular pain memories. Our mind can. But our cells do not. So there is a tendency to let the memory diminish--it is a part of our self-defense mechanisms. Resist this to the point you remain prepared at all times. If you wind up not needing your preparation, again GReat!! Better to have your arsenal full. Blessings!

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Joe, Is it possible to abort an attack if you were to take the imitrex an hour or so before it hits? Most of mine are almost like clockwork, and was hoping I could get a "jumpstart" if you know what I mean.

Hubby has been on Depakote for about 2 months now. He takes 1,500 mg at night. That, along with Verapamil 240 mg three time a day (not the extended release, the regular as recommended by the fine folks here) have kept him pain-free for 8 days straight for the first time since last October.

Took him awhile to get used to the Depakote. When he took it during the day it made him dopey as hell. When he first started taking it at night he would get up around 2 or 3 am with a serious case of the munchies, and would be groggy most of the morning. Now, he's sleeping through the night and able to function during the day, pain-free. He has five E-tanks at home, one E-tank in his truck, an Optimask, and Sumavel injectors in both our vehicles. I need to post a huge thank you to the members here for all the great suggestions and advise because he wouldn't be pain-free for this long without them!!!

He also has some mild issues with anxiety that have come about from the CH, not necessarily the medications.