I have always found that taking sudafed helps prevent an attack when I feel shdows.  However, my Dr. just told me not to take it with my other meds because of the risk of stroke.  I am on Lithium and Verapamil and Claritin with Cyproheptadine at bedtime and use Imitrex injections to abort.  I think he's concerned about the interaction with Imitrex.

Does anyone know of an effective alternative to Sudafed?  I am wary of nasal sprays because trying to stop using them is difficult.

Jett wrote on Nov 13^th, 2008 at 12:09pm:

I have always found that taking sudafed helps prevent an attack when I feel shdows.  However, my Dr. just told me not to take it with my other meds because of the risk of stroke.  I am on Lithium and Verapamil and Claritin with Cyproheptadine at bedtime and use Imitrex injections to abort.  I think he's concerned about the interaction with Imitrex. Does anyone know of an effective alternative to Sudafed?  I am wary of nasal sprays because trying to stop using them is difficult.

   Oxygen works.

        Potter

Erm, I don't know what the decongestant in sudafed is, could you post it please?

Other than nasal sprays, I doubt you're going to find one that WON'T effect your heart. There's one nasal spray people use on here, 4-way, it has to be name brand. They'll prolly post and tell you more.

Yeah, it's really not safe taking all of those.  Verapamil is a vasodilator, Imitrex constricts cranial blood vessels, and the drug in Sudafed, either pseudoephedrine or phenylephrine, is a vasoconstrictor.  Not to mention if the Claritin has a decongestant in it too.

If you're having trouble with congestion, you can always try the saline nasal washes but it won't prevent any attacks.  If anything, it could help stop any extra pain from the pressure caused by the congestion.

Thanks for the advice.  O2 helps my CHs but not the congestion that seems to lead to them.  I will try a saline spray.

Just seem to be in a bad cluster the past couple of weeks.  My neuro says he has others complaining, too.  Since it's the first cluster in over a year, I can't complain.

Jett wrote on Nov 13^th, 2008 at 3:56pm:

Thanks for the advice.  O2 helps my CHs but not the congestion that seems to lead to them.  I will try a saline spray. Just seem to be in a bad cluster the past couple of weeks.  My neuro says he has others complaining, too.  Since it's the first cluster in over a year, I can't complain.

i strongly recommend non generic 4 way. i think some of us have used it as an abortive. has to be non generic. try that and let us know.