Sudafed nasal spray has stopped 3 attacks in a row for me, used at the onset, just before the pain really kicks in, but when you know you are about to get one. I'm excited, but obviously we'll see if it keeps helping.
  Sudafed is a decongestant nasal spray sold in the UK, the active ingredient is Xylometzoline hydrochloride. The effect upon inhalation is an opening up of your nasal passage and free breathing. I think it is a vaso constrictor, which is why it reduces the blocked up feeling in your nose.
  I have suffered cluster headaches for about 3 years, first year was worst, screaming, crying, agony. I changed my diet, stopped drinking, gave up smoking and took up exercise and drinking alot of water. The severity of my headaches is much less now, 6-7 on the kip scale, rarely up to 9. I don't usually go more than a week without a headache, then I'll get 2-3 a day, they don't floor me anymore, I just have to jump around, move my jaw alot, drink water and wait for it to pass (20-40 mins).
  I also find that sex helps, I don't know if it is the physical exertion or what but I do find it can bring a headache to cessation sooner.
  Anyway, I recommend trying the nasal spray. I will post again when I've tried it a few more times.
 I would be interested to know if anyone knows the medical reason why this might hep or if anyone has similar succes with Sudafed.
  Best wishes,
     Toby

Glad it's helping, some of us have had some success with a similar product called "4-way".

I've seen several posts about the 4-way spreay too, similar to your sudafed I believe.

MUCH MORE IMPORTANTLY!!!!! we need to get you in touch with OUCH UK and get you set up with oxygen. 40 minutes hopping around with these is too long. Oxygen can knock them out in less then 10 minutes, save the Sudafed for the small shadows.

Wishing you continued luck with the Sudafed but please check out oxygen

Guiseppi

hi toby,go to ouch.co.uk and print off the hoof(home oxygen order form)and take it to your gp and TELL them to sign it and fax it off to your area supplier,your delivery guy will set it up for you first time.make sure you tape over the holes on side of mask and cut off straps.good luck

Agostino Leyre wrote on Aug 27^th, 2008 at 4:59pm:

Glad it's helping, some of us have had some success with a similar product called "4-way".

yep.  4 way has worked for me as well. i've also used it before sleeping. i still got the r.e.m attacks but i would get more than the usual 45 minutes of sleep and they were more controllable with o2 at that point.

I've been having a worse than normal active period this January, with my nocturnal attacks increasing to two a night. Normally, I can do something very aerobic, such as 100 squats, and that will cut the pain duration down to about 15 minutes. I had forgotten that in times of sickness, when I would take cold medication (a la Sudafed), my headaches would disappear completely, so last  night I tried a test, taking a 12-hour Sudafed before bed. Voila, no headache, although Sudafed raises my blood pressure and makes me jumpy, so my sleep was intermittent. The weird thing is that I've started Lisinopril this past year to bring my blood pressure down, but Sudafed raises it...could this be a link? Did my higher blood pressure keep my clusters at bay for the last few years?

If your getting hit a lot at night, consider using melatonin, an OTC sleep aid. Start with 9 mg about 30 minutes before bed time, might be able to avoid the wake up hits that way.

As far as high BP keeping the beast at bay? Who knows! ;) I don't recall if you have oxygen yet.

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I used to go for a 20 minute all out sprint when the beast came calling, would ratchet the pain down a few clicks but never get rid of it. Now I huff oxygen for 6-8 minutes and I'm pain free. Cheap, effective, no side effects, certainly worth a shot.

Joe