Posted by J.M. and Dr. Gary A. Mellick on August 31, 1998 at 21:22:35:
The Following is Posted with the Patient's Permission.
The following are exerpts from a letter written to Dr. Mellick by a patient who suffers from episodic cluster headaches. He had relief after taking 10-mg of Ritalin at the onset of his headaches. Ritalin SR was begun approximately one month after beginning treatment with 10 mg of Ritalin to completely stop the headache cycle.
August 31, 1998
Dear Dr. Mellick
I am a fifty-five year old retired fire fighter and dock worker who began having cluster headaches at the age of 32. I have experienced cluster headaches for 23 years. I have been to twelve different doctors, including doctors at the Cleveland Clinic. I have spent thousands of dollars and scores of hours in waiting rooms, not to mention the hospital emergency rooms and CAT scans, etc. I have tried Dilantin, Cafergot, DHE 45 injections, Ibuprofen, Vicodin codeine, Indocin, Inderal, Lithium Verapamil, steroids and other assorted drugs without relief. I have even tried acupuncture treatment. All these past treatments failed to relieve me of these demon headaches. I call them "demon" headaches because when I get a cluster headache, it feels as though there is a demon in my head with a hot spoon trying to dig my eye out from the inside of my skull.
While experiencing these headaches, I am unable to live a normal live. In the past, I was unable to work, socialize or function until the episodes finished. The headache cycles usually lasted one to four months in duration and I had one or two clusters per day that would occur on their own or were brought on by beer or sips of wine.
When on duty at the fire department, I would usually lie down in the supervisor's office until the headache passed. No one seemed to understand and I did not get much sympathy for my constant rocking back and forth due to the severe pain.
Cluster Headaches ruined my first marriage. My second wife and family share my pain and are more understanding when I get these headaches.
I had just about given up hope for any doctor to help me. Fortunately, My son happened upon Dr. Mellick's web site and informed me about the doctor's new treatment using Ritalin. I immediately made an appointment, since I was going through an episode at that time. I saw Dr. Mellick for the first time on June 1, 1998. The following log reflects the results of Dr. Mellick's novel treatment.
On June 2, 1998, a cluster headache began in the right eye at 2:15 AM. At 2:17 AM I took a 10-mg Ritalin tablet. Relief started at approximately 2:24 AM and at approximately 3:05 AM, I fell back to sleep.
On June 3, 1998, the cluster headache started at 10:15 AM while I was asleep. I immediately took 10-mg of Ritalin. By 10:25 the cluster headache was in full strength. At 10:45 the headache began to diminish in intensity and by 11:00 AM the cluster headache had stopped leaving only a slight pressure in the right eye.
On June 4, 1998, the cluster headache awoke me from sleep beginning in the right eye at 9:30 AM. After taking 10-mg of Ritalin, the headache was gone except for a pressure behind the right eye. Also, the right side of the head is very sensitive to touch, even while brushing the hair.
On June 5, 1998, I experienced residual pain and pressure on the right side of the head and in the right eye, but had no full-blown cluster headache.
On June 6, 1998, I awoke with a cluster headache at 10:35. I took 10-mg Ritalin tablet and after 20 minutes, the headache was tolerable and in 45 minutes, the cluster headache was gone except for slight pain in the right eye.
My next cluster headache occurred on June 6, 1998 at 1:10 AM after I had fallen asleep watching television. I awoke at 1:15 AM with a full-blown cluster headache. I immediately took 10-mg of Ritalin. I had 50% pain relief by 1:30 AM. The pain relief was 75% by 1:40 AM; 85% pain relief by 1:50 AM and by 2:00 AM, the cluster headache was totally gone with no pain in the right eye.
I had no headaches on June 8 and 9, 1998 but felt sensitive in the right side of the face and head and a light pressure on the right eye.
I was awakened by a cluster headache on June 10, 1998 but this headache responded to 10 mg of Ritalin in 10 minutes.
Except for sensitivity in the right eye, I had no headaches on June 11 and June 12, 1998.
On June 13, a cluster headache began in the evening. I took 10 mg of Ritalin immediately and the headache stopped. The Right eye was sensitive the rest of the night.
For the remainder of June, whenever I felt a headache come on, I would immediately take Ritalin 10 mg and the headache would go completely away with in seven to ten minutes.
On July 13, 1998, I began Ritalin SR each morning. I would use 10-mg of Ritalin whenever a cluster headache would start (I would notice a slight increase in pain or pressure under or in my right eye.) This pattern continued throughout July with Ritalin working each and every time. I would take Ritalin SR each morning and use 10 mg Ritalin whenever a cluster headache would try to start
My right eye was sensitive until on July 14, 1998 when I took a tablet of Ritalin SR (20-mg) and a Ritalin 10 mg at the same time.
At Dr. Mellick's request, I completely stopped taking Ritalin at the end of July and I have not had a single cluster headache ever since.
In the 23 years that I have had this syndrome, I have never experienced relief until I became Dr. Mellick's patient. His novel approach and his honest dedication to me as a patient are very commendable. His treatment with Ritalin has been the only thing that aided me and stopped these "Demon" headaches in all the years that I have experienced them. I consider my self privileged to have been one of Dr. Mellick's patients. God bless his every endeavor
Sincerely,
JM