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mjstokie CH.com Newbie Offline I Love CH.com! Posts: 1	Verapamil Sep 5^th, 2012 at 9:07am I was a sufferer for 30 years until i was diagnosed with cluster headache. I was prescribed Verapamil and have not had 1 headache in 4 years. I have now got my life back thanks to this.
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wimsey1 CH.com Alumnus Offline I Love CH.com! Posts: 2457 MA Gender:	Re: Verapamil Reply #1 - Sep 5^th, 2012 at 10:25am Congratulations, and welcome. We recognize verapamil as a frontline preventative for CHs. As does the medical community. I have been taking verapamil since 1987, starting at 240mg/day with good effect, and after all these years now have to take 640mg/day. Some go as high as 960. Anyway, glad you're doing well. blessings. lance
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AppleNutClusters CH.com Old Timer Offline 2012, Year of the Honey Badger Posts: 261 Richmond, Virgina, USA Gender:	Re: Verapamil Reply #2 - Sep 5^th, 2012 at 8:02pm Great to hear! I had to back off due to heavy side effects, but it did work pretty well while I was on it.
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Brew CH.com Sponsor CH.com Alumnus Offline Posts: 14163	Re: Verapamil Reply #3 - Sep 5^th, 2012 at 9:11pm I successfully used verapamil for years, but Little Elvis didn't play well together with ol' Mr. V.
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Mike NZ CH.com Hall of Famer Offline Oxygen rocks! D3 too! Posts: 3785 Auckland, New Zealand Gender:	Re: Verapamil Reply #4 - Sep 5^th, 2012 at 11:39pm I can't imagine going 30 years before getting a diagnosis. I bet you were over the moon to get an accurate diagnosis at last. Verapamil is pretty good, I know it works well for me, although I'm sure there is concrete dust in the tablet from it's effect on the digestive system. Hope you continue to be pain free with it.
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fun2drum CH.com Junior Offline I Love CH.com! Posts: 55 Marion NC Gender:	Re: Verapamil Reply #5 - Sep 6^th, 2012 at 1:47pm As a newcomer to the forum I'm finding this interesting. What are the downsides to it, besides not being able to eat grapefruit and having to go sparingly on the Red Bull?
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Brew CH.com Sponsor CH.com Alumnus Offline Posts: 14163	Re: Verapamil Reply #6 - Sep 6^th, 2012 at 1:55pm Other than the persistent constipation, if my previous reply isn't a "down" side, I don't know what is....
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fun2drum CH.com Junior Offline I Love CH.com! Posts: 55 Marion NC Gender:	Re: Verapamil Reply #7 - Sep 6^th, 2012 at 4:37pm Brew wrote on Sep 6^th, 2012 at 1:55pm: Other than the persistent constipation, if my previous reply isn't a "down" side, I don't know what is.... Oh I get it now.
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Guiseppi CH.com Moderator CH.com Alumnus Offline San Diego to Florida 05-16-2011 Posts: 12063 SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA USA Gender:	Re: Verapamil Reply #8 - Sep 6^th, 2012 at 5:06pm I was in my early 20's when i tried it and man it put "little elvis" into hibernation! The constipation and the ED are the most commonly complained about side effects that are discussed here. Low blood pressure and swollen joints get mentioned less often. Joe
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Kevin_M CH.com Sponsor Offline withered branches grow green again. Posts: 8754 Michigan, USA Gender:	Re: Verapamil Reply #9 - Sep 6^th, 2012 at 9:39pm I can tolerate it without side effects up to 360mg and below. At times more is needed, but I quickly lower it to 240 when able and that helps my CH activity to behave most of the year, with strong coffee and also oxygen at times. In the last few years there have been stretches when I can completely discontinue it, but not now.
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Lenny CH.com Alumnus Offline I love YaBB 1G - SP1! Posts: 642 Los Angeles,CA Gender:	Re: Verapamil Reply #10 - Sep 7^th, 2012 at 10:19am The only side effect that i have with it is the big "C"...anytime that i go above 480,i get very light headed...other than that,all is good...Lenny
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sagandra

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I Love CH.com!

Posts: 12
Tampere, Finland
Gender: female

Re: Verapamil
Reply #11 - Sep 13^th, 2012 at 1:05pm

Hi,
Verpamil...i am on it 4 x 80. It works (my pred taper from 80 is now 10 and only 1-2 ch per 2 days, kip5, so it works.) Problem: doc wants me on depakote since i have bipo and i have used it successfully for migraine prevention (they dont seem to get that ch is no migraine). This could though be solved by going to another doc. But another bigger problem:

I have started to have chest pain in mornings on left side. Have anyone had this with verpamil? I quess its not prednison.. I have been taking verpamil for 5 weeks, started same time with prednison. i posted earlier under my "getting to know ya" thread that i would like to continue verpamil but starting to worry about side effects. Anyway i am curious to know if anyone has been forced to stop verpamil because of chest pains?

PF wishes

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Bob Johnson

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"Only the educated are
free." -Epictetus

Posts: 5965
Kennett Square, PA (USA)
Gender: male

Re: Verapamil
Reply #12 - Sep 13^th, 2012 at 3:08pm

A list of side effects is not a statement that 100% of users will have that experience. The listing is required by law and gives experience data ranging from 0.5% and upward.

Wisdom says: use this information to give guidance; look for any changes in you body and consult your doc.

Not wise to exclude using the med based on a possibility which may not affect you.

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Bob Johnson

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wimsey1 CH.com Alumnus Offline I Love CH.com! Posts: 2457 MA Gender:	Re: Verapamil Reply #13 - Sep 14^th, 2012 at 8:29am Chest pains are nothing to mess around with, particularly with verapamil. Call your doc right away. They can do an EKG strip and perhaps even run a blood test to make sure things are OK. Call today, OK? blessings. lance
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sagandra CH.com Newbie Offline I Love CH.com! Posts: 12 Tampere, Finland Gender:	Re: Verapamil Reply #14 - Sep 14^th, 2012 at 9:20am Thanks Lance, doc called! Said that have to taper off.
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