Posted by Virginian (Barry Watson) on February 11, 1999 at 18:18:37:
Hello all
I am a cluster sufferor of more years than I like to think about. I first got them in High School and I am now almost 53. I am haveing a bout now that started in Mid December. My last bout was in 97 and it was one of my longest (Feb through Nov). This bout is a bad one too. I am taking Prednisone and something else (sorry I am at work and don't have the name). It starts with a C and I think it is an antihistimine. I am also taking my "VERY BEST FRIEND" Imitrex. That leads me to my question. Does anybody have any info or thoughts on the max number that you can take in say a day or a week, and has anybody heard of any serious overdose problem. The reason I ask, is that with this bout I seem to be having more than normal, and as always since Imitrex has come on the market, my tolerance of pain has fallen off sharpely, especially when I know relief is only a shot away. After my last bout, I kinda stocked up on the injections, knowing that another bout would come. I know the guidance with the shots, say no more than 2 in 24hrs and no more than 6 in a week. I have been over 6 in a week on many occasions, but have rarely gone over 2 in 24 hours. With this bout I have had many during the day, and work has caused me to take the shots more often. As I write this I feel another one coming and know that I will probably take another shot if it does. My last shot was at 4 am this morning, but I took 4 of them yesterday. I also take the pill form, because my last and best Neuro (damn he had to move to North Carolina) said you could take more of the pills than the shots and alternate them. The shots relieve the pain in 15 mins of less and the pills usually take over an hour. I guess I have rambled enough for now, I just wanted a place to talk I guess, and to find out if anyone else is as weak as me and when the pain comes,,the shot comes out, side effects overdosing or anything else goes out the window. Now that I have found this place I will probably be spending a lot of time here. I wish relief to all those who are suffering.
Your friend in pain.
Barry Watson (aka Virginian) I live in Virginia, but travel doing Y2K renovation work, and I am in Chicago right now.