I used to take a drug called Midrin with the mix of drugs mentioned n the subject line.  This has for years been my drug for the k3-4's.  Now, my insurance, for some odd reason has decided to not cover it at all.  Any suggestion for a replacement?  Midrin always seemed to be something that i could take when they werent bad enough for trex.

Oxygen as a replacement.

        Potter

Im flying from TN to the UK n 12 days..by the time i get it here..will need it in the uk lol..will be there 9 weeks..hopefully wont need it at all by the time i get back..next cycle absolutely..

First, give us a good history. We so often start moving in the wrong direction until some important bit of information is disclosed.

I have several other posts on here.  Started episodic ch when i was 21, had mri and was diag with migraines.  i was diag with ch only 9 yrs ago..and had 4 cycles since.  also 4 different drs ive trained up on this mess. i have seen ha spec once, 8 yrs ago...200 mile roundtrip for me.  the gp will be just fine with me as long as he/she complies. lol  i started this cycle nov 3. Nothing with any pattern and nothing above a k3.  on nov 14th the beast was raging and hasnt stopped since.   im on verap 120mg x 3 pr day. just ramped up that 3rd 120 today.  having to move a bit slow with the v because of my bp (86/58)today. i have the trex here and mine are in vials so i pull about 2 mg per dose and that does the trick.  i only like to use the trex for k5 or higher because ive been at k10 and i cant do that too many times. like most ppl insurance limits the trex and its expensive to buy outright. the midrin was a vise for the k3-4. ive spoken with the dr on monday and the oxygen is not going to be a prob just waiting on me for the go ahead.  i take 9mg of mel at night during cycle and the 1st couple nights where great. now, not so good.  im thinking of adding a benedryl to that nightly cocktail as well.  as stated in the above post, im going out of town shortly and by the time i get things set up here..ill be gone.  im just trying to get thru this cycle and the next 1 (in 2 yrs hopefully that wont change) ill be telling u how great the O2 is working out for me.  I am a smoker.  I have cut back during cycle, and the pain seems worse to me.  so now, i dont really change that too much.  i really dont have any triggers.  alcohol doesnt seem to bother me. smells.....not anything really.  The cost of the midrin is not really overly expensive and its def not something that i would refuse to pay for. was just wondering if anyone else knew of something to take its place. (with not so many sides) i do have 5 hr energy drinks n fridge and dont drink more than 2 a day. the v is def making a diff because ive gone from 2 hits in middle of the night every night and 2 during the day to 0 some nights and only shawdows during the day. been pf today..but its coming and its gonna be a bitch.

And yes im aware that midrin is a migraine med but it works for the k3&4's so i really wouldnt care if it was for jock itch if it made my head stop hurting lol

Two problems related to the travel plans: you have so little time to run trials to find an effective abortive and you will need something which is easy to pack in sufficient quantitles to get you thru the 9-wks.

Two ideas come to mind: one of the ergotamine preps might help with K3-4 whereas they are iffy with more intense attacks. And it's not too expensive.

From direct experience, I like Zyprexa and a very low dose (see abstract) would be a quick trial you have time to run.
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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.

PMID 11576207 PubMed

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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.

Thanks Bob. Will talk to the dr about the zyprexa. like i said, just need something for the k3-4s, and i dont care what they say "primary use" is for, if it works. I have enough stock in trex for the big ones. the midrin hasnt been covered for sometime so im down to my last 50 or so, and that makes me nervous because at 2 per day..thats only 25 days  :-/

Lacey wrote on Dec 16^th, 2009 at 10:26pm:

And yes im aware that midrin is a migraine med but it works for the k3&4's so i really wouldnt care if it was for jock itch if it made my head stop hurting lol

Try Gold Bond Medicated Powder.

(I'm kidding. Seems everything nowadays needs a disclaimer.)

lmao!