Looking for advices  :-/

In year 1997 after a stress and depressed period I started with some Prosac therapy and
almost simultaneously two weeks period of very regular cluster headache attacks was born,
that means, with daily headache around the eye coming between afternoon napping and
unbearable killing headache coming at night, when “beast” waked me up at 01.00-02.00.
From that time CH cycles were regular with intervals 12 - 24 months, lasted for 2 - 8 weeks,
start in winter, spring, summer, autumn, most left sided, a possible cause some kind of diet.

A month ago I started with Prozac therapy (every second day), what in some cases could
probably stop the cluster headaches (both, Prozac and CH, have influence on serotonin),
but I dropped in regular CH cycle again, when “beast” attacks with following characteristics:
- 1. attack from 21.00 to 22.00 h (or napping) middle or strong intensity (8,9) 15 - 30 min
- 2. attack from 24.00 to 01.00 h strong or super intensity (9,10) 30 - 60 min (wake me up)
- 3., 4., 5. attack different before 07.00 h with same characteristics (7,8,9) as 1. or 2. attack

I didn’t drink alcohol in any form for a month, that was major trigger during CH past cycles.
I stopped with Prozac therapy a week ago. I think, the Prozac was trigger for this CH cycle.
Last two days I have only daily afternoon and evening attacks with following characteristics:
1., 2. long-term variable attack, 17.00 to 22.00 h, low/middle intensity (5,6,7,8), 60-180 min
and some shadows came through last two nights. Life is still not beautiful, but is acceptable.

I drunk a couple of beers yesterday to initiate daily CH attack and reduce night CH attacks.
For now, it worked, but I will not experiment with alcohol to much because of experiences.
The cycle probably isn’t stopped (could grow up in few days), but I hope, climax is pasted.
Does anybody have experiences how antidepressant effect as CH cycle trigger / treatment?

Thanks in advance  :)

Zoran

The older antidepressants have a real effect in reducing migraines and clusters, but it is not nearly as strong or consistent as with other meds, so these are not commonly used.  The SSRIs like prozac overall have little effect on neurovascular headaches - I have heard from a few people that experienced improvement on SSRIs, but this is not generally true for the group.

In my opinion, anything that disrupts normal functioning can sometimes be a trigger for CH.  The first month or two on SSRIs are often 'disruptive' as they change the activity of serotonin and other neurotransmitters.  Prozac is not widely considered a trigger or contributor, but for some people in some circumstance? Maybe.


Crni wrote on Aug 20^th, 2009 at 8:41am:

I drunk a couple of beers yesterday to initiate daily CH attack and reduce night CH attacks. For now, it worked, but I will not experiment with alcohol to much because of experiences.

Yes, that sounds risky. There is no guarantee that triggering them in the day will prevent them at night - I think it might do the opposite, and increase the amount of cluster headaches overall.