Posted by Ali Kartal on November 16, 1998 at 03:55:41:
In Reply to: Cluster Headache posted by Dan Cullihall on November 11, 1998 at 11:21:51:
I am male, 36, suffering for the last 20 years. Fortunately, my episodes come exactly every two years and last 6 to 8 weeks. Doctors have tried verapamil, lithium, valproate (anti epileptic) and prednisone for prophlyaxis. Only prednisone works. Lithium and valproate did nothing more than making me feel sicker. Verapamil seems to have a weak effect, but makes me feel sleepy and tired all the time.
Problem with prednisone is of course that you cannot keep on taking it in high doses for the duration of the episode. My schedule has been taking 60 mg. for ten days and then tapering it off in 20 days, which takes me comfortably through the first 1/3rd to half of the episode, and then it starts over again.
I am in an episode now and my doctor has prescribed Lidocaine (a local anesthetic agent) nasal spray. I tried it for the first time and found it to be amazingly effective. When applied at the beginning of an attack, all pain ceases within minutes.
This is what works for me. Ask your doctor before acting on my advice. I have heard that Lidocaine can affect heart rythm.