hello everyone!
You have no idea how amazing this site is. I am a 28 year old who along with my father suffer from this horrible condition. I still remember my first attack around 8 years ago. Swore that I was going to die. Stinking cluster went on for three days.....rough start.  Both my father and I combat attacks with Indomethacin. (yes, I know that it is the primary med for gout, but it is the only thing that works!!) At the first sign of an attack, we will pop one of these and then give it about 5-10 min. Not only will it knock it out, but it will also give you a great night sleep. Another thing that helps is nitrous oxide gas ( I am a dentist, so its easily avaliable). I actually just finished a bout with clusters this last week and the combo of the pills and N20 gas worked great. Be careful with it though, both of those meds can lead to serious problems. Just recently obtained an imitrex pen for sub-Q injections. If anyone has used em, please let me know how you like it, the rep who gave it to me uses em and says that it will get your heart racing pretty bad.

I would be REAL leery about using the N₂O to abort an attack.  Maybe it does work, but pure Oxygen is MUCH safer, and is extremely effective.

Chuck

Providing you are a dentist, as you have stated in your post,
don’t you think it is “a bit” risky to suggest the use of Nitrous oxide, commonly known as "laughing gas" with out proper knowledge of administering it,

It is a drug!

and if I am not wrong, it is (in many places) prohibited to distribute nitrous oxide for the purpose of un-trained human consumption.

Like Chuck, I would say "Oxygen is MUCH safer, and is extremely effective"

"O2 can do"........

Michael

Welcome to the board! Do read the "oxygen info" tab on the left. It details how to use oxygen as an abortive. I can knock an attack out in 6-8 minutes using oxygen. 31 years of the beast and it's still my first line and most effective abortive.

I've used the imitrex stat pen. Didn't have any heart issues. Makes my skin feel like snakes crawling just below the surface! It does knock a CH out very quickly for me. Given my druthers though I always reach for the 02 first!

You also didn't mention any preventative medications. A med you take daily to reduce frequency and intensity of attacks. I use lithium, verapamil is also a very popular prevent. Others to read about on the meds board and discuss with your neuro.

Welcome to the fun house, hope we can help you reduce the pain department a bit!

Joe

Glad you found something that works for you, but a lot of us have found that N20 triggers CH in us and are VERY leary of it. (I won't let the dentist near me with it - shots are NOT bad at the dentist office :))

O2 is (for most of us) our first line of defense and (usually) easily obtained and safe for long term use.

Welcome to Clusterville.

Hugs BD :-*

guess I need to clarify something from my original post. I was not promoting the use of nitrous gas use by anyone without a medical license. Just was saying that since I am licensed to administer it, I use it to aid in aborting attacks, thats all. Most of the time 10 minutes or so will really help while the indomethacin kicks in. But I will try using just pure 02 since so many have had success with it.
Glad to hear that the imitrex pens work good. Havnen't reached for it yet, but I spent three hours last night fighting a cluster that my indomethacin couldn't touch. Then woke up to yet another one. Good times. Hope that this clears some stuff up.

Yeah by all  means get a decent oxygen set up that you can keep with you. When I'm on cycle that E-tank leans against my bed so when I wake up already at a 3-4, I can fire off the 02 right away! But with oxygen, time is of the essence! A delay of even a few minutes dramatically increases my abort time. Wishing you a short cycle and some pain free time soon!

Joe

(Geeze!  It seems like I am following Joe around ... Well he IS kinda cute ... with a REAL nice butt ...)

Anyway ...

Make sure that you use the oxygen properly.  If it is not used right, it is worthless.  You need AT LEAST 15LPM (higher is better and faster) and a non-rebreathing mask.  The ones that most vendors supply will get you by, in a pinch, but the Cadillac of masks is the O2PTIMASK^TM.  Fortunately, Deej has those in the CH.com store, behind the tab on the left edge of your screen.

You should also make sure you know all that is behind the tab oxygen info too.  Even though you are familiar with oxygen treatment, our use is unique, and needs special treatment.

Good luck, and let us know how you are doing!

We care (or we are just a bunch of nosy busybodies ...)

Chuck

Read the imitrex tip on the side.  It is a great tip, and it helps cut down on the heart palpatations that trex can cause.  Also, it helps conserve the imitrex, which alot of us know,  is more valuable than gold!!!!!

good luck,
try the O2
chrisw

Since no one else has said it I will.


You don't actually say that you were diagnosed with CH.

Indomethacin usually doesn't have any effect on Cluster headaches.  But it does on Paroxsysmal Hemicrania.   In fact,  that is one indication of PH....it reacts so well to Indomethacin.

here is a chart for you to read.

  START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE


Linda

I was wondering about the Cluster that lasted for three days?  This is not typical of CH either.  

I have great success with my Imitrex pen.    I don't feel my heart racing but my skin feels tight, especially in my face.  I am usually pain free within five to ten minutes after I inject myself.   Please do check out the 02.

Pain free wishes,

Jeannie

Linda, I was diagnosed by a physician and neurologist. The only thing that leads to PH is the fact that indomethacin works- according to the chart that you sent the link to. However, I have talked to several neurologists and oral surgeons that have prescribed that medication for CH when other treatments haven't helped. Indo isn't a golden bullet by any means. I have had several attacks that haven't responded at all to it, but have also had plenty where it helps.
Jeannie, didn't find the place where I said three days, but it may be a typo on my part; the attack that I was talking about lasted three hours. Worst one to date. Did use 02 for the first time and loved it. used 15L/min and was blown away at how well it worked. Thanks to everyone who mentioned O2 tx.

Yeah oxygen has totally changed how I look at CH. Knowing there's a better then 90% chance 02 will kick his arse in less then 10 minutes kinda takes a lot of the beasts power away. Really glad it's proving as effective for you.  [smiley=thumb.gif]

Joe