Ok here goes. About a year ago I had bad cluster headachs for about 4 months straght. I'm not sure if they were cluster headachs or not but thats what my docture called it. First she tries Ox2 and it didn't work. So she prescribed me amitriptyline or however you spell it an antidepreasent. I took the pill the first night and went right to sleep. the next day i was in a hole new world i kept taking the pill for 2 weeks it cured them from day one and i havent had a headach at all since then and that was over a year ago. Have fun ! : )

I had a doc RX me amnitriptiline(sp) in the past and it did not cure my CH's at all...

Hi Dustin,

Thanks for adding your experience to the pool.  That's what makes this board work. Everyone sharing their experience and supporting one another.

1st, I'm really glad you found something that works for you.  Amatryptaline is a med some folks get relief from.  Like everything else around here, it doesn't work for everyone.

I would like to caution you just a bit though.  Everything I've read says Amitriptyline doesn't work well for CH.  It sounds like you are episodic.  Is it possible that after a four month cycle that it was just time for your cycle to end?  Often it is hard to determine cause and effect from a one time occurance. It happens and is frustrating.

Either way, I'm truly glad to see you're getting some PF time.  It's what we are all after.

If you do find that the beast returns and your magic bullet isn't as effective, come on back.  Maybe we can help you find the next effective treatment.  Better yet, stick around  ;)

-Dennis-

Welcome to the board. Who is your friend Dustin?

Welcome to the board Dustin!

Be prudent when you use the “C” word though, it is a four letter word here. ;)

Glad you kicked out of cycle on it! It worked for a week and quit for me..

Rolo.. :)

Before your next cycle starts...please read up on the use of oxygen.  You may have been using it wrong, the regulator didn't go high enough and so on.

 Glad your cycle is over for now.

Yeah I mean I didn't figure it would work for everyone but I tried everything i could think of before i used that med, when i did I could feel the headach trying to be there but it was in the back of my head unable to cause me pain : ) and I was sooo releaved. for 2 weeks i was in another world sleeping like a baby from that stuff and then i quit even though the doc told me to take it for a month. never had any kind of headach since exept for cold ones like i just got after eating ice cream too fast : D I'm not sure what my friends board name is on here i'll find out though and post, I wouldn't mind sticking around even though i don't get headachs anymore I allways like to meet new friends.  I have an online gaming guild for Diablo 2 also i'm a member on a few other sites so whats one more right?

hi all my friend said she hasent made an acount on this site but has been reading it for a long time lol

Heya, I'm on Amitryptaline, too. I'm only on 75mg, but my neuro said I'd probably have to hit 300mg before it knocked things out.

I've noticed a difference in the intensity, but it hasn't cured me. It's now in my mix of meds that I'm on for this. I think one or two other people have had success with it. :3

I'm happy you found something that(you believe) works for you!

But I would like to ask you not to use the word CURE, I just can not believe CH is curable! (at this period of time)

I have not found any reference or a study (treatment of / for CH with the above mentioned substance) that will support your statement, and yet in the “Arzneimittel-Kompendium der Schweiz®” I did find a  (some what) reference:

Quote:

„Saroten Retard kann auch verwendet werden bei gewissen Patienten mit chronischen Schmerzen, die sich gegenüber der üblichen prophylaktischen Behandlung als resistent erwiesen haben.“

Translate (free translation)
“Saroten Retard can also be used in certain patients with chronic pain, that have proved to be resistant to the usual prophylactic treatment

Dosage for chronic pain: (recommendation!)


Quote:

„Chronische Schmerzen Initial 1 Kapsel zu 25 mg 2 Stunden vor dem Schlafengehen. Bei Bedarf langsame Erhöhung um 25 mg/Tag, in der Regel nicht über 100 mg/Tag. Die mittlere therapeutische Dosis beträgt 50–75 mg/Tag. Da die prophylaktische Wirkung nur bei gewissen Patienten nachweisbar ist, muss der Behandlungserfolg nach 3–4 Wochen evaluiert werden.“

Translate (free translation)
Chronic pain

Initial 1 capsule to 25 mg 2 hours before bedtime. If necessary slow increase at 25 mg / day, usually not more than 100 mg / day. with an average therapeutic dose of 50-75 mg / day.

Since the prophylactic effect only in certain patients is detected, the treatment success should, after 3-4 weeks evaluated.

As Dennis already pointed out, you can not disregard the assumption that the CH cycle was due to end and it is just pure coincidence, end of a CH cycle / episodes and the start of the use of the above mentioned substance.

Do read the offered (vast) information on this boards, so if your “cure”  did not work you will have a good base of knowledge and information, to fight next time, and I honestly hope for you it never will be back, still read, and try to build a comprehensive knowledge so you are ready if and when you will need it!

Michael

 Welcome Dustin,  Glad you found some thing that works.  I tried amitriptiline years ago and at first it would knock me out, I would be sleeping in 15-20 minutes after I took it and it seemed to help for a couple days with the night time headaches but it quickly stopped working.  My doctor switched me to nortritiline with the same results.
 Stick around and tell your friend to join too
     Phil 8-)

Hi, I too was given oxygen a few years back and found that it didn't work, and was given various medications, which also didn't work.  Well, I joined this site earlier this year and read all that was said about oxygen and found that the dosage I had been given was nothing like high enough, so I went back to my Doctor, who gave me 15 ltrs per min, and lo and behold, it works now.  Also much trawling through this site, and the web, and I found alternative medications, which work  - for me- but what works for one person, doesn't necessarily work for another, but Oxygen, plenty of water and coffee, coffee, coffee, worked for me, and I am sticking to it.  Good luck.   [smiley=thumbsup.gif]