Clusterheadaches.com Message Board


    
      
        Clusterheadaches.com Message Board
        (http://www.clusterheadaches.com/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi)
      

        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Cluster Headache Specific >> Viagra
        
(Message started by: jenniferczarnik on Apr 14^th, 2008, 3:41pm)

Title: Viagra
Post by jenniferczarnik on Apr 14^th, 2008, 3:41pm

My husband has not had a cluster headache for at least 6 years now. He is terrified to try viagra, i cannot find any info on this. Does viagra trigger a cluster headache??

Title: Re: Viagra
Post by seasonalboomer on Apr 14^th, 2008, 3:50pm

on 04/14/08 at 15:41:27, jenniferczarnik wrote:

My husband has not had a cluster headache for at least 6 years now. He is terrified to try viagra, i cannot find any info on this. Does viagra trigger a cluster headache??

Then don't try it.

Title: Re: Viagra
Post by jenniferczarnik on Apr 14^th, 2008, 3:57pm

Looking for some real information on this!!

Title: Re: Viagra
Post by seasonalboomer on Apr 14^th, 2008, 4:12pm

That was real.

If the guy is terrified to try it, then don't try it. Why do you need a "study" to tell you anything else?

Title: Re: Viagra
Post by brewcrew on Apr 14^th, 2008, 4:22pm

Imitrex, oxygen - both vasoconstrictors.

Viagra, Cialis - both vasodialators. Opposite effect.

First, stop being terrified. It's been 6 years - I say give it a shot. But be prepared for the outcome.

Title: Re: Viagra
Post by Guiseppi on Apr 14^th, 2008, 4:36pm

I'm with Brew. I'd have oxygen and maybe an imitrex shot available just in case. I haven't seen anything posted on the board about this before. 30 years of battling the beast and I don't think anything has ever "triggered" a cycle. They just come and go as they please. While on cycle I avoid the bad triggers, alcohol, etc.

While I can understand him being concerned, I'd still say have the abortive medications at the ready and give it a shot! Good luck. ;)

Guiseppi

Title: Re: Viagra
Post by monty on Apr 14^th, 2008, 5:32pm

I am an episodic in remission for a few years. Haven't tried viagra, but I have played around with Epimedium (horny goat weed), ashwaganda, and ginseng, and for the most part, haven't had a problem with them (once had a headache like a shadow after taking ginseng, but that was unusual). These are probably not as extreme as viagra, but there was a definite effect.

Viagra has an action similar to nitroglycerin in several ways (increases nitric oxide and vasodilation). Nitroglycerin is a fairly dependable way to provoke a cluster or migraine if a person is susceptible ... ie, episodics in cycle, some chronics. Viagra has also been noted as a trigger for migraines. I would be wary about using it in cycle or if chronic. I suspect it is like alcohol, and may not provoke in some chronics, but I don't know for sure.

Title: Re: Viagra
Post by vietvet2tours on Apr 14^th, 2008, 5:45pm

Get a Bob.

Potter

Title: Re: Viagra
Post by chewy on Apr 14^th, 2008, 6:34pm

If an erection lasts more than 4 hours contact your doctor.

and all the local newspapers, television stations, any national magazines that will listen, and of course....Oprah.

Title: Re: Viagra
Post by Bob P on Apr 15^th, 2008, 10:32am

I'd bet that if he was episodic and hasn't had a cluster bout in 6 years, Viagra won't start one.

God seems to be pretty good about making our clusters go away once we get old enough to need Viagra!

Title: Re: Viagra
Post by vietvet2tours on Apr 15^th, 2008, 12:16pm

on 04/14/08 at 18:34:42, chewy wrote:

If an erection lasts more than 4 hours contact your doctor.

and all the local newspapers, television stations, any national magazines that will listen, and of course....Oprah.

That's some funny shit. Bettin no cases have ever been reported. If that happens all ya hear is a roll over baby I ain't done with ya yet.

Potter

Title: Re: Viagra
Post by brewcrew on Apr 15^th, 2008, 10:19pm

on 04/15/08 at 12:16:41, vietvet2tours wrote:

If that happens all ya hear is a roll over baby I ain't done with ya yet.

Or the classic Milwaukee foreplay line: "Brace yourself, Stella."

Title: Re: Viagra
Post by Racer1_NC on Apr 15^th, 2008, 10:22pm

on 04/14/08 at 18:34:42, chewy wrote:

...... and of course....Oprah.

If that doesn't kill one, nothing will.....

Title: Re: Viagra
Post by cluster on Apr 16^th, 2008, 4:09am

Quote:

The patient is a 46year-old man with a history of cluster headaches beginning at age 17. The headaches were typified by a severe, right-sided, throbbing pain associated with lacrimation and nasal congestion occurring about two to three times per day; the attacks would occur repetitively over a period of a month and then remit for months or longer. They could be precipitated by drinking alcohol. In the past, they had been treated with verapamil, lithium, and corticosteroids. The patient’s last attack had been 3 years ago. In July of this year, the patient had taken two tablets of Viagra 50 mg for the first time at 9 PM. Approximately 4 hours later, he was awakened from sleep with a typical, severe, throbbing, right-sided headache.

The headache remitted after about an hour and, thereafter, he was headache-free. Two days later, he repeated the two tablets of Viagra at 9 PM and again awoke at 1 AM with a typical, throbbing, right-sided headache, He ceased using Viagra after this. Subsequently, he began having typical cluster headaches on a regular basis, usually at 12 to 1 AM, 4 to 5 AM, and again around 8 AM; they would rarely occur after 10 AM, although he reported feeling like he was on the “verge” of an attack during the day.

[...]

While it is possible the patient’s cluster headache recurrence was coincidental, the history suggests a cause and effect relationship. It will be interesting to see if more reports of this relationship appear in the next few years.

Source: Stein M.: Viagra and Cluster Headache. Headache. 1999 Jan; 39(1): 58-60. Letter. PMID 15613198.
Online (but not for free):
http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/links/doi/10.1046/j.1526-4610.1999.t01-1-3901058.x

Viagra = Sildenafil
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sildenafil

See also:

http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1526-4610.2006.00316_4.x

http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/abs/10.1111/j.1468-2982.2006.01071.x

Best wishes,
Friedrich

Edit to fix link, hope it works now.

Title: Re: Viagra
Post by Karla on Apr 16^th, 2008, 6:56pm

I seem to recall from an OUCH conference that a dr was saying that viagra is known to trigger ch. But we all know that just because it does for one person doesn't mean it will for another person. Also each cycle can be different for a person as to what triggers and doesn't. I say try it and have abortives on hand just in case.

Title: Re: Viagra
Post by chewy on Apr 16^th, 2008, 9:09pm

If the erection lasts longer than the Ch then just ride it out.

Ride, ride, ride....let it ride. 8)

Title: Re: Viagra
Post by Annette on Apr 16^th, 2008, 9:23pm

This is an honest and serious question from a supporter: is it normal for a CHer to still feel that much fear of a CH attack even after 6 years of being painfree ?

If its normal it still cant be good to live in such fear, right ?

Shouldnt something be done about that fear first before trying to convince the person to try or not to try something based on someone elses experiences ?

Title: Re: Viagra
Post by Linda_Howell on Apr 16^th, 2008, 9:36pm

I'm with Bob. Bob Pahlow that is.

After 6 years? go for it.

Title: Re: Viagra
Post by Giovanni on Apr 16^th, 2008, 9:50pm

on 04/14/08 at 18:34:42, chewy wrote:

If an erection lasts more than 4 hours contact your doctor.

And request a refill.

John ;)

Title: Re: Viagra
Post by superhawk2300 on Apr 16^th, 2008, 9:55pm

Well, we are all "family" right?

During this last cycle I was so tired and beat. Needless to say we went without sex for about 2 months. I got a few doctor friends. I had one give me a couple of viagra to get me through the slump - my wife is gorgeous and mentally I was really getting lonely but physically I was spent. I know it sounds dumb. I am a man. I need my sexin. I really didn't consider what viagra does, even though I knew what it does and it was a heart medicine first - I just wasn't thinking about it.

Anyhow. The night I took one I instantly remembered EVERYTHING about viagra. It was the WORST HIT I HAVE HAD IN YEARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I will never ever ever ever ever x10000000 try that again!

Oddly enough, shortly after that, I started getting boners after really going on the 02 hard. Seemed like every single time I was going HARD on the 02 it would make me hard a minute or so after I was off of it.

Try running some 02 hard and see what it gets you.

Beware Viagra!!!!!!!!!

Title: Re: Viagra
Post by vietvet2tours on Apr 16^th, 2008, 10:27pm

on 04/16/08 at 21:23:21, Annette wrote:

You never ever lose the fear ma dear. As for this serious supporter she made two posts and bailed.

Potter

Title: Re: Viagra
Post by Annette on Apr 16^th, 2008, 11:32pm

on 04/16/08 at 22:27:44, vietvet2tours wrote:

You never ever lose the fear ma dear.

Potter

Thank you Potter, this is really important for a supporter to know, and remember.

Title: Re: Viagra
Post by beachmusic on Apr 17^th, 2008, 8:38pm

Maybe just maybe they got the viagra and they are busy ;)

Title: Re: Viagra
Post by jjslugdog on Apr 28^th, 2008, 2:23am

It was 2-1/2 years from my last episode until this one. I've used Viagra probably 15 times during that time. Last time I used it, Saturday, April 19th. This episode started Sunday, April 20th. I've got about 15 100mg tabs left if anyone wants 'em to see if it will start a cycle. I'll never touch the sh*t again.