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        New Message Board Archives >> Medications, Treatments, Therapies 2004 >> Research - Ritalin & Clusters
        
(Message started by: floridian on Dec 23^rd, 2004, 1:38pm)

Title: Research - Ritalin & Clusters
Post by floridian on Dec 23^rd, 2004, 1:38pm

Ritalin can abort and prevent, according to this study, though this was only one person's experience. Anyone else taken ritalin while having clusters?

Quote:

Headache. 1998 Oct;38(9):710-2.

Cluster headache management with methylphenidate (Ritalin).

Mellick GA, Mellick LB.

The authors report rapid cluster headache relief in a 43-year-old man with a 5-year history of refractory cluster headache. The patient described complete headache relief within 10 minutes of taking 10 mg of methylphenidate (Ritalin) when used to abort the onset of his headaches. Subsequently, a scheduled Ritalin dose taken each morning was sufficient to prevent his nightly headaches. In addition, 1 week of prophylactic methylphenidate therapy halted the series of cluster headaches. This is the first reported case of relief of cluster headaches with methylphenidate.

Title: Re: Research - Ritalin & Clusters
Post by nani on Dec 23^rd, 2004, 2:27pm

I take ritalin for ADD. I have not taken it for CH, and I actually think it makes me a little worse. Because I am chronic and get many relatively low kip hits, I find a noticeable difference when my BP gets higher. Ritalin spikes my BP a bit. I can't say it's a trigger...it just makes my body feels kinda off, a little more beat and makes the intensity of hits slightly more intense. It keeps my mind sharp as a tack, but I don't take it like I should. My life is often a pathetic, chaotic swirl of events. [smiley=looser.gif] (at least I'm cute)

Title: Re: Research - Ritalin & Clusters
Post by eyes_afire on Dec 23^rd, 2004, 7:47pm

Awhile back there was quite a stir on this website from people reporting success using ritalin. Have to check the archives for details. Overall, ritalin has no effect on my CH as a preventative. I'm surprised that the patient you mentioned experienced relief in 10 minutes. I can't imagine using it as a preferred abortive since it takes about 45 minutes for me to feel the effects of an oral dose (never tried snorting). I don't think ritalin made my CH worse... if anything it may have helped a wee wee bit with morning shadows, but nothing more.

--- Steve