Posted by Jesse (206.241.4.3) on March 13, 2001 at 11:49:42:
I am a long time sufferer of cluster headaches. Essentially they have become a two time a year cluster for me - -in the Spring and Fall (any validity to baromtic pressure or allergy relaiton) for about 5-6 weeks for each cluster. I usually end up taking as much imitrex as I can stomach -- first pills, then shots -- to where I end up in an imitrex haze. The shots work so well it is scary but there is usually a rebound.
During these clusters, I will go for about three days straight of 3-4 attacks (worst at night after fallng asleep) and then it lets up for two days and then comes back again. Smae pain and symptoms that is described through out this site.
My nuerologist suggested I try Verapamil to knock me out of hte cluster -- take large dosages basically and then titrate it down.
I would love to get feedback on the use of Verapmil to kick out of a cluster -- does it work, does the cluster appear again at a different time of year, side effects, etc. Spring is coming and I woke last night with a rager of a headache -- the imitrex pill worked for ma after about 20 minutes but they will become ineffective soon enough -- and then I will move to the shots.
And as we all know getting the shotts is like getting blood from a stone with the way insurance companies are these days.
Thanks in advance.