currently have ch ( 1 or 2 a day since 6/23 ) - tried replax - not much help - now 5mg Zomig spray when it comes on - Dr also gave me Amitriptyline 25 mg once a day at bed time - any experience with these ? - also the Amitrp seems to leave me ache in am and leaves a bit of small headache itself - also if have a nap in afternoon seemed to bring one on as well as after about 1/2 hr sleep at night brings one on - anything to do with sleeping a certain way or ?? - looking for some help

Golfer

Around here most of us recommend O2 to abort the beast (Zomig might do it if the O2 doesn't work - it doesn't 100% of the time - just almost always). Check out the O2 info.

Amitrip is one drug I CANNOT take - sorry no help here. It puts me in never never land for days.

You might try melatonin at night - it helps get you thru the REM sleep (where the CH occurs). As for the daytime naps - those are a no no for most of us. I get slammed anytime I try it.

Read the Meds page and see what works for "some" of us. But remember - what works for some doesn't work for all. We're all different and the beast knows it. It's a crap shoot what will work for each of us.

Welcome to Clusterville.

Hugs BD :-*

So glad to see this....I take the O2....and Zomig on occasion when needed, and was wondering if Melatonin would hurt.  I read the bottle last night, and decided not to take it...now maybe I will.

I was worried that it would make me sleep good, and I would not wake up fast enough during a hit, to get to air fast enough.  

Seems that if it gets past a certain point before I wake.,,, it takes the O2 sooooo long to work.    


lorac

Thanks for the feedback - appt this pm will talk to Dr. about O2 - what did the Amitriptyline do to anyone - I wake up in am feeling a little out of it but then ok other than a lingering small pressure type headache that is very livable considering the CH's -but it doesn't seem to do much else.
I guess naps are a no no because that hits me every time !!

The Zomig hits in about 8 to 10 mins for me - last night started at 11pm took the Zomig withing a few minutes and by 11:15 was pretty much gone and able to go to sleep - that is experience with Zomig - getting more today as right now seems to work.
thanks again for help and comments

Many years ago I was on amitriptyline and it worked VERY well for me, for several years.  The only side effect that I had was constant dry mouth, but it was easy to fix, with a simple glass of water.  It was also a very acceptable side effect, seeing that it eliminated my clusters.

Unfortunately, after a few years, it stopped working for me.  I am not saying that will happen to you, but it did for me.

As Barbara says, get OXYGEN!!!  And make sure that you are using it the right way, with the right equipment and flow rate.  Many of us would be glad to help you with the right process.

Good luck!

Chuck

Hi.  I have been taking Elavil (amytriptyline) for decades.  The minor side effects will fade away soon.  Like lots of other meds I have taken for a long time there comes a day it stops working.  For me that meant increasing the dose, and that worked.  For other people and other drugs the results vary.  An increase might help, a change to a similar drug, or a change to a completely new drug may be needed.  Talk to your doctor and make sure he knows all the other drugs and supplements you are taking.  Remind him on each visit by mentioning everything you are taking and doing.  Bring your own printout of your meds and other medical problems you have.  Don't rely on him having an accurate list that he will refer to.  Doctors are fallible, human, and in a hurry.  Each patient is 15 minutes out of an 8 to 12 hour day.  Help him/her do the best job possible given those obstacles.  
BJ

I was on it for years, but it stopped working. In 2005 they had me on a very high dose for insomnia, but it did nothing. Then they tested the level of "tetracyclics" I think it was in the brain, and I was at near toxic dose. So I got pulled off that and haven't touched it since.

I learned a couple of years ago about a musician named Nick Drake who suffered from depression and was bi-polar, and was on Amitryptiline and died of accidental overdose so, NEVER increase a med unless your doctor tells you to do so. Sometimes just a few mg's of something can mean the difference between life and death.

Peace,
Carl

Still getting CH's about 1 or 2 a day but much less in intensity - Dr. increases to 50 mg for the triptyline and helped sleeping ( not waking with CH thru the night ) wants me off the Zomig spray for a few days , said that after 15 consecutive days of use , need to take a break ?? so using extra strength Advil gels and does help but not as fast - ID soem triggers - eggs , yogurt, milk , chocolate , tobacco ( only smoked odd small cigar when golfing but boy did it hit within an hour ). Looks like O2 next up if this continues

I agree about the 02
Elavil was a mess for me.  It allowed me to sleep through the night, but I always felt like I was wrapped in cellophane!


Slammy  8-)

not trying to hi-jack this thread, but Darn it Slammy...I've missed you.  Please check in here more often.

Slammy wrote on Aug 12^th, 2009 at 5:07pm:

I agree about the 02 Elavil was a mess for me.  It allowed me to sleep through the night, but I always felt like I was wrapped in cellophane! Slammy  8-)

Wow, he lives........  ;)