Posted by Lars on August 17, 1998 at 19:05:09:
In Reply to: Cluster headache, Verapamil and Imitrex Questions posted by Daniel W on August 17, 1998 at 11:50:30:
Hi,
I was diagnosed this year with chronic cluster ha and my Doctor set me on
Verapamil. I take it every day, sometimes I have to use an Imitrex injection as
well but the Verapamil keeps the demon at bay.
My Doctor and a headache specialist told me to stay on Verapamil as a permanent treatment
and they both were glad that it worked so good for me, because it is the preventive medicine of
choice, since it has the least side effects (so they told me).
The best abortive for me is Imitrex injection, when it comes to speed with the abortion of an attack.
The best without side effects is Oxygen, although it takes somewhat longer to abort the attack.
I started with 240 mgs of Verapamil a day and I experimented a little with the dosage. On days I can feel a
shadow I take a higher dose and I found out that for me it is most of the time enough to take 160 mgs during the day.
When I take less, the demon takes control and hits me hard.
I only can suggest, that you start to experiment with the dosage of Verapamil a little and see that you can stay painfree
with as little Verapamil as it takes.
Hoping you are still 'only' episodic,
Lars