Hello all you wonderful clusterheads!  I have been an episodic clusterhead for a little over 17 years.  I am a lucky one, in that I was diagnosed within the first three years.  Other than a few really horrible bouts, I have been able to treat with meditation, red bull, espresso, cold Nebraska winter air.  This time, I am not so sure.

I just wanted to thank you all for the support you have given me throughout the years.  I have "lurked" this site for many years and read posts and felt relieved to not be alone in my hell - and I must admit horrified that there are so many of us there!

Had a reprieve for all of 2007 and most of 2008, thought maybe he forgot my address!  But alas, the beast comes knockin again and he seems to have grown more angry with me and I am having trouble coping.  I have an appointment next week with a new doctor (since my old one thinks migraine and cluster are the same thing) and I have printed out all the information on oxygen therepy to take with me.  I am concerned that my insurance doesn't consider oxygen therepy as a treatment for CH.  Had a stroke in 2003 so most conventional drugs (imitrex etc) are out of my reach.  

Well, just looking for some advise on winning against the giant insurance company and thanking you all for being here.

Hopefully some of the insurance savvy types will come along. I'm not much help there. I paid out of pocket for many years and it's suprisingly cheap. My E-Tank rentals were $4.25 a month, and about $11.00 to refill. A tank bought me about 6 aborts. So if they refuse to cover it, it's affordable.

Do you have a decent preventative medication? I use lithium while on cycle, verapamil is also really popular, might fit in with your medical history. Worth talking to your doc about. I can block 70-80% of my attacks with my prevent so I'm not quite so dependent on the 02.

Glad you jumped in the pool with us, welcome to the board!

Joe

02 is a treatment for an acute attack involving the central nervous system. The doctor will have to fill out a need for medical necessity form to the insurance company stating that. They will also have motivation considering the cost. 02 is much cheaper than Imitrex. With backup from the doctor most insurance companies will pay. 8-)
all the best
the bb

Hopefully some of the insurance savvy types will come along.

Told ya! Thanks BB


Joe

Thanks Joe and bbz!  Had no idea it was that inexpensive!  Here's crossin my fingers.  I will specifically ask the doctor to complete the medical necessity form and maybe avoid any hold ups.  I am trying one that is listed on the OUCH site - hope that means he isn't stupid when it comes to the beast.  I think he feeds on stupidity!  Thanks again!  I knew you guys would have the details!

Print this abstract and show to your doc. I don't believe it would be an issue re. the stroke. A number of us have had excellent results.
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Headache 2001 Sep;41(8):813-6  

Olanzapine as an Abortive Agent for Cluster Headache.

Rozen TD.

Department of Neurology, Jefferson Headache Center/Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, Pa.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate olanzapine as a cluster headache abortive agent in an open-label trial. BACKGROUND: Cluster headache is the most painful headache syndrome known. There are very few recognized abortive therapies for cluster headache and fewer for patients who have contraindications to vasoconstrictive drugs. METHODS: Olanzapine was given as an abortive agent to five patients with cluster headache in an open-label trial. THE INITIAL OLANZAPINE DOSE WAS 5 MG, AND THE DOSE WAS INCREASED TO 10 MG IF THERE WAS NO PAIN RELIEF. THE DOSAGE WAS DECREASED TO 2.5 MG IF THE 5-MG DOSE WAS EFFECTIVE BUT CAUSED ADVERSE EFFECTS. To be included in the study, each patient had to treat at least two attacks with either an effective dose or the highest tolerated dose. RESULTS: Five patients completed the investigation (four men, one woman; four with chronic cluster, one with episodic cluster). Olanzapine reduced cluster pain by at least 80% in four of five patients, and two patients became headache-free after taking the drug. Olanzapine typically alleviated pain within 20 minutes after oral dosing and treatment response was consistent across multiple treated attacks. The only adverse event was sleepiness. CONCLUSIONS: Olanzapine appears to be a good abortive agent for cluster headache. IT ALLEVIATES PAIN QUICKLY AND HAS A CONSISTENT RESPONSE ACROSS MULTIPLE TREATED ATTACKS. IT APPEARS TO WORK IN BOTH EPISODIC AND CHRONIC CLUSTER HEADACHE.



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Olanzapine has a brand name of "Zyprexa" and is a antipsychotic. Don't be put off by this primary usage. Several of the drugs used to treat CH are cross over applications, that is, drugs approved by the FDA for one purpose which are found to be effective with unrelated conditions--BJ.