Posted by Bob Johnson (209.211.41.174) on September 06, 1999 at 14:37:31:
In Reply to: DHE posted by Greg Komashko on September 06, 1999 at 14:20:37:
If you have the option, might be well to locate somone who has a special interest in headache. Experience in the doc, motivated by interest, delivers better outcomes.
Suggest you explore the information on the left of this page--medical information.
DHE has long been used as an I.V. but is not available in a nasal spray which you can then use at home, etc. There is some suggestive evidence that it may not be quite a potent as using ergotamine as a sublingual tablet ("Ergomar"). Worth trying both; individual variation in effectiveness among drugs is significant. If Ergomar works, the bonus is that it's much less expensive.
Naproxen is sometimes used to prevent attacks as well as treat an attack; usual dosing is 275-550 mg/twice daily.
Be patient! Cheap advice when you are in pain, I know, but finding the right combination of meds for CH often takes time and a dedicated doc.
If you are restricted to a someone without much experience with headache, suggest you look below your message at "Educating your physician"--get that article and give to the M.D. That will get you started on more sophisticated treatment.