Posted by Dr. Gary Mellick on November 01, 1998 at 19:43:19:
In Reply to: Dr. Mellick, Ritalin people, are you still there? posted by Carl on October 26, 1998 at 15:06:40:
Carl,
I have slowed down my search for new cluster headache patients to treat with Ritalin while I await the reaction to the case report that will be out in the next two weeks. I have "proofed" the final version and it is finally being published.
I recently had the enjoyable experience of lecturing about the use of Ritalin for RSD and cluster headaches for the NJ and DE Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy state organization. The response was superb and the people were great!
Chronic patients for the most part are maintaining control with perhaps one or two 10 mg Ritalin tablets per month when the shadow grows to more than just a shadow. Sadly, one patient is having less success. We are still working together on solving this as a team. He may consider surgery.
I hope to be looking at cluster headache mechanisms and the sleep connection by working with a sleep lab.
Overall, the news is still very good. I believe that Ritalin therapy will eventually become a 1st or 2nd line cluster headache treatment option for both aborting and preventing the onset of the headaches.
Cordially and good luck to everyone,
Dr. Gary Mellick