Posted by Bob Johnson (208.234.124.40) on July 26, 1999 at 10:10:28:
In Reply to: Prevention better than pain posted by Laurence on July 25, 1999 at 21:19:37:
I'm in the "amen corner" with you. Suspect many folks don't appreciate that a wide range of meds have/are tried for prevention but that the success rate for any one of them is relatively low so that multiple trials may be necessary before we find something which works. A related problem: a med which has been working may stop doing so and it's necessary to start another round of trials.
Diamond Headache Clinic, Chicago, has reported good success with a new med, DOTARIZINE, as a prophylaxis for migraine. Not yet on the market and I could only find a handful of research reports in MEDLINE this weekend. Suspect that it will have crossover benefits for CH as do so many meds. (I'll post any new information as I find it.)
In the meanwhile, here are some articles on treatment and prevention which, while a bit dated, are still good sources. I'd recommend taking them to your doc as a talking point, as a way of educating him, and giving some authority for your requests for specific meds. (When I ask my doc for something new he doesn't respond for 2-3 days. He calls his brother, who is a neurologist, to check out my request--but finally an Rx comes in the mail! But I've give him some article from a medical journal to support my request.)
You can get these articles at no/low cost through your public library, medical library in your hospital. Can order via the MEDLINE site but it's expensive. Ready?
"Management of Cluster Headache: An American View", HEADACHE QUARTERLY, 1:1 (57-63), 1990, Au. Lee Kudrow.
"Treatment of Cluster Headache in Europe", HEADACHE QUARTERLY, 1:1 (65-70), 1990, Au. Karl Ekbom.
"Prophylactic Therapy of Cluster Headaches", CLINICAL NEUROPHARMACOLOGY, V 14, #2, 116-130, 1991. Au. Seymour S. Solomon, et al.