Posted by Stu F. on May 24, 1999 at 01:32:28:
In Reply to: Verapamil posted by Jeff on May 20, 1999 at 12:41:31:
I've had variable success with verapamil. I haven't been able to stop a cycle once it got up a head of steam, but I've twice been able to shut a cycle down if I start (or increase) the verapamil in the first couple of days of the cycle. My physician also suggested coupling the verapamil to a high dose of long-acting steroid to temporarily suppress the CH until the verapamil could take hold (about two weeks).
The first time I tried this, 240 mg Calan SR was enough. The second time, I upped the dose to 480 mg/day and it stopped the CH for another year. Finally after five years headache-free, I got a cycle that wouldn't stop even at 720 mg/day. In other words, it's a good drug, but not a miracle drug. I'm now trying verapamil (480 mg/day) plus depakote (500 mg/day) - 2 weeks so far and no success yet. I've just gone up to 750 mg/day on the depakote. Wish me luck!!