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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> preventives
        
(Message started by: troy on Jan 5^th, 2006, 7:29pm)

Title: preventives
Post by troy on Jan 5^th, 2006, 7:29pm

Hello all, it's been a long time since I posted. Had been pain free for over a year and thought maybe I had gotten rid of the beast for good. Have suffered from this disorder for eight years. My question is for those of you taking verapamil as a preventive. Are you in complete remission on this med or do you still get hits that arent as strong? The reason I'm asking is when this cycly started on nov 2nd I began taking verapamil 480 mg daily didn't miss any doses and still got hit two sometimes as many as 8 times a day. Used o2 to abort but it would come right back usually within an hour. I work the night shift so my sleep time is during the day. This is when I get hit the most only getting about 2 hours of rest per day. Any suggestions would be appreciated. I just finished a prednizone taper hoping to break this cycle but unfortunatly still getting the sleep time hits. Troy :'( [smiley=huh.gif]

Title: Re: preventives
Post by BMoneeTheMoneeMan on Jan 5^th, 2006, 7:34pm

Sorry to have you back Troy.
Its been since Nov 2 since you have been taking 480 per day?
Do you think you are past the peak of your cycle or are you still getting hit more than 5 times per night?

You might wanna talk to your doc about upping the verapimil.
Have you been taking the melatonin/benadryl cocktail when you try to sleep? Lots here get reduced activity during sleep with the use of melatonin, it might be worth a shot.
PF wishes
BMonee

Title: Re: preventives
Post by E-Double on Jan 5^th, 2006, 8:11pm

Could consider increasing.

Also, are you on Extended or Standard release.

Once I switched to Standard (or immediate) thngs got much better.

Title: Re: preventives
Post by Mr. Happy on Jan 5^th, 2006, 11:30pm

on 01/05/06 at 20:11:14, E-Double wrote:

Once I switched to Standard (or immediate) thngs got much better.

If you're going to take verapamil........Amen to Standard release. Equal amounts, EVERY eight hours, like clockwork. It was a night and day difference for me, but no fooling around on the timing. You may or may not need more than 480 mg/day........but give the 8 hour dose stuff a shot. Standard release pills only. Breaking Extended/Time release pills is a 15 yard penaly ~

Pharmaceutical Foul.
RJ

Title: Re: preventives
Post by Lizzie2 on Jan 5^th, 2006, 11:48pm

Don't quote me on this, but I think you can actually split the extended release verapamil (depending on brand) if they have score marks. I used to split mine, and due to knowing that you don't break extended release tabs, I questioned this, but was assured I could. That's something to ask about very carefully before doing, however! Every brand could be different. But as a general rule, no breaking open time release meds.

Standard release wins hands down for me, too. :)

Title: Re: preventives
Post by E-Double on Jan 5^th, 2006, 11:54pm

on 01/05/06 at 23:48:19, Lizzie2 wrote:

You can split them but they still don't work as well.

Go Standard!! lol

Title: Re: preventives
Post by Lizzie2 on Jan 5^th, 2006, 11:58pm

True true...OK you win. :)

Since I almost died taking the extended release by having a blood pressure of 60/40 and was lying on the bathroom floor throwing up for hours...I'm not a big fan of that form!

Plus if you split them, you don't really know how much you're really taking....... No split pill is exactly half!

So to quote you: Go Standard! :) ;)

Title: Re: preventives
Post by troy on Jan 6^th, 2006, 6:10am

thanks for the input, I will be switching to standard relief starting today. Also by using this does it put you in complete remision or are the hits less frequent, and hard? Sorry for repeating the same question I'm just trying to understand and hope that remision is possible while in the middle of a cycle. This one has been really hard. It seems as I get older it's harder to recover than it used to be, really starting to affect my job.

Title: Re: preventives
Post by chewy on Jan 6^th, 2006, 8:43am

Verapamil will lessen the frequency.

Title: Re: preventives
Post by E-Double on Jan 6^th, 2006, 9:06am

on 01/06/06 at 08:43:47, chewy wrote:

Verapamil will lessen the frequency.

yup.