Imigran is the same as Imitrex just a different name, the medical name for the drug is Sumatriptan Succinate.

I am on the Imitrex shots and the nasal as back up, Imitrex will sometimes give you a tightening feeling in your throat or bass of your neck but other than that I've had no adverse side affects from it.

I strongly recommend no alcohol and to avoid the morphine as it is addictive and will more than likely cause more problems with your CH hits.  I would find a Headache specialist or at least go to a different neurologist for a second opinion on your treatment options.

I have no experience with Duloxetine, but I'm sure someone else here can and will help with that.

Good Luck!

I agree with above.
Unless the doc is treating you for much more than CH he is misguided in his treatments and has little understanding of cluster headaches.

The treatments have every possibility of increasing the pain, frequency of hits and a long term income for the doctors practice. There remains a very, very slim chance it might help one in 1,000 with CH

Cymbalta is a oral dual reuptake inhibitor that enhances the levels of the neurotransmitters, serotonin and norepinephrine
Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or

Vodka and coke. The greater benefit may be in the coke alone. Most stimulants ie; caffeine can be beneficial and the fizzy (Co2) can help a wee bit as well.

Most depressives ie: narcotics, morphine, valium, etc.. have an adverse effect on CH. in 999 of 1000 cluster heads.

Immitrex/immigran injections can and do help a lot of people but they are not without side effects.

Of any drug you mention this is the only one I would be comfortable with.

The ONSI treatments are all the rage in parts of the medical community but in reality benefit very few with CH. If they do benefit it is generally short lived.

Might be a good idea to get another opinion from an unaffiliated doctor.

My doc has been doing research and she questioned the duloxotine with my neuo, which is why i need to see doc to question morphine,   quite excited about trying imigran, heard a lot of good results from it.  and I slept for 7 hours last night, and havent had an attack for 9 hours 

Morphine is a quite inappropriate med for Cluster and suggests the doc is lacking training/experience in this area.

Look for a specialist:

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. 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.

6. Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or NEW certification program for "Headache Medicine" by the United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties, an independent, non-profit, professional medical organization.
        Since this is a new program, the initial listing is limited and so it should be checked each time you have an interest in locating a headache doctor.
=======

If a new doc is not possible, print out the PDF file, below, and use it as a tool to discuss treatments.

Carolyn wrote on Jul 3^rd, 2010 at 3:50am:


Once you start talking about it, don't be surprised to come across other people. I've found out that someone from work and someone I was at university with both know just what it is like to suffer from CHs.