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There ya go.

This issue has largely disappeared from both this group and them medical literature I see.

Several years ago there was some medical consensus that staying on 100% of the time was useful when you had rapid cycles, with only a brief time between them.

Listen to your doc and not our imagination, please.

My clusters have switched sides, but not very many times.  I've had cluster for about 37 years, and had maybe a half dozen cycles on the right side.  Hundred or more on the left. 

I went through a lot of pain that first cycle on the right, because I just couldn't believe it was cluster, after 25 years or so on the left side only.  The pain, while really intense, was a little bit different; more burning and less pressure behind the eye.  Finally, out of desperation, I took an Imitrex injection, and it worked in 5 minutes.  That's how I knew.

I do get off of Verapamil completely between cycles, but I agree with the advice already given here to listen to one's doctor.  I've been prescribed as much as 960 mg per day.  And over the last couple of cycles, my neurologist added Lithium Carbonate as Verapamil wasn't getting it done anymore, and the side effects are a bummer at that dose. 

Pain free since mid-2009, likely due to early onset geezerhood, but both preventive meds are in the cabinet.  If I get a twinge, it's oxygen to treat, first dose of both meds to prevent, then immediate call to the neuro, in that order.

Wishing pain free days to all...

Dennis

It has worked for me.

Long story short- had CH since I was 20-21 (now 40) never diagnosed until 33 getting them twice a year- good thing for me, I only got it when I drank alcohol- as I got older, they got worse and came when I tried to take a nap or early morning. After that I went to the Dr. who explained what they were... put me on 180mg Verapamil & Imitrex... after 3 years on 180mg Verapamil, they only came in the spring time- up to 240-360mg while in cycle .... this last spring, the pollen season came early - as soon as I felt the slightest twinge - Dr. put me up to 240mg then 360 - shadows mostly, this was over the course of two months, back down to 180mg.. I think Juniper pollen mightbe the cause... I seemed to have skipped this year's cycle (and I drink almost daily). My theory is that (before Verapamil) I had two cycles a year, a strong spring/summer and a weaker fall/winter. The verapamil controlled the weaker cycle, I think the stronger spring/summer cycle is triggered by tree pollen, as soon as I get runny eyes/sniffles from the pollen, I asked the Dr. to up the verapamil, he agreed- 240 for two weeks, then 360, for another 4 weeks, then down to 240 for two more then back to 180 - to coincide with decreasing pollen. It seemed to work, but Dr. just says, we'll see next year....  As for the switching sides- in 20 years of CH they have been on my right side, twice, on my left.