Posted by Paul (216.123.107.182) on March 03, 2000 at 11:07:45:
In Reply to: Re: New to this Group posted by Jackie on August 07, 1998 at 10:45:13:
I've been having cluster headaches for almost 30 years and while I sometimes don't have a cycle for a couple of years (thank god) I really hadn't found anything that helped. When I was nineteen my doctor said that I would "grow-out" of these headaches and I'm 47 now and while the frequency of my problems is much less than twenty years ago, I'm still hoping that the problem will go away forever.
I tried ergot and sansert and a lot of analgesics but nothing special. I bought some Imitrex, but when I read the contra-indications and side-affects it scared the crap out of me. "Convulsions", "death", what the hell is that all about?!
Codeine helped with what I called the "after affects" but it made me feel like a junkie carrying it around constantly.
I read about lidocaine nasal spray on the net about four (1996) years ago and I asked my physician about it. While it was not available commercially then (it may be now)in Canada, he said he would act as my advocate and have the Drug Trading Company make some up for me.
It really has worked for me. I can reduce the affects on even a full-blown cluster headache within several minutes and eliminate some headaches altogether.
Other than a numb nose and a little numbness in my throat I haven't perceived any side-affects.
I can't imagine anyone with cluster headaches not trying this stuff. It really has been a revelation.