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        Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies >> Low dose Verapamil and Melatonin
        
(Message started by: Revolvr on Jan 9^th, 2006, 7:02pm)

Title: Low dose Verapamil and Melatonin
Post by Revolvr on Jan 9^th, 2006, 7:02pm

Back in October I started getting a few Shadows. Fall is my time of year for episodes and I have learned shadows precede a full blown episode from hell by about 3 weeks.

Went immediately to my Rx who started me on 160 mg/day Verapamil. I also started 9 mg Melatonin at night.

The shadows disappeared and I have had no problems.

It is very possible I jumped the gun and was never going to have an episode anyway. Or possibly this therapy actually worked. Since I can never do an A/B comparison I'll never know.

So I was curious if anyone else had any success with a similar treatment as a preventive?

TIA

-- Dan

Title: Re: Low dose Verapamil and Melatonin
Post by nani on Jan 9^th, 2006, 11:36pm

Hi Dan, verapamil didn't do a thing for me until it was up to 480 mgs a day. Glad it's working for you. :)

Title: Re: Low dose Verapamil and Melatonin
Post by Kris_in_SJ on Jan 10^th, 2006, 8:25pm

I'd like to say I've had success. Unfortunately, I never know when a cycle is going to hit (3-5 years remissions currently). I can only tell you that between the last two cycles, I was on 240mg/day of Verapamil as part of my hypertension cocktail. Sure didn't stop my last cycle from hitting.

After this last cycle, I weaned off the Verap (took 5 months until I was totally without twinges) and doc put me on a different drug for hypertension. I'm now saving the Verapamil for when I REALLY need it.

If it worked for you as a preventative, say a little "thank you" prayer. Hope you stay PF!

Hugs,

Kris

Title: Re: Low dose Verapamil and Melatonin
Post by Kevin_M on Jan 10^th, 2006, 9:14pm

on 01/09/06 at 19:02:14, Revolvr wrote:

Back in October I started getting a few Shadows.

Went immediately to my Rx who started me on 160 mg/day Verapamil. I also started 9 mg Melatonin at night.

The shadows disappeared and I have had no problems.

It is very possible I jumped the gun and was never going to have an episode anyway. Or possibly this therapy actually worked. Since I can never do an A/B comparison I'll never know.

You hadn't mentioned if you've discontinued the use of each to see if there was anything still lurking there.
Even if you don't have a before/after comparison, (as Kris mentioned) be glad it either never came or was restrained during this episode by what you used.
In the past I've waited until the certainty of a hit before starting a preventative, which will leave the first couple weeks playing catchup and paying dearly for being a slow learner. So to start and prevent during shadows without a hit, and with this now being three months later, safe to say, "who knows". ;)

stay on yer toes.