3 nites in a row no sleep/ had to work yesterday, was a zombie, on my 2nd pred taper which was working until last nite: Ever had this happen?
I'm getting a hit, so I beat it back with ice and hot shower, about 20 min only got to kip 4. then after its completely gone I start getting another hit 15 minutes later! Wow!! got all the wayto 8 or 9/ nothing worked couldn't shake it, 1 hour and 25 minutes!! twice I got the feeling like it was subsiding and then it would keep pounding me!! I was pacing around the living room into the bedroom and back with one hand holding the ice and the other applying pressure, I kept begging Please God take it away!! Like you guys all say they always do end!! What a Christmas eve!! I'm actually only free of it for about 15 minutes and I'm feeling like another ones coming. A buddy has a Chlonopin? sleep drug? Good idea or no. I really got to get some sleep today, got to work tomorrow. No insurance so I dont really have an effective 02 option.

Clon. won't hurt you but most likely won't give sleep if you are in the midst of an attack.

Pred. will usually stop a cycle but if it isn't working now, will likely need to start the series over again at a higher dose.

You don't mention any other meds: Using an abortive?, a preventive?

Believe you will get better response with a good abortive.

Absence of insurance: If a barrier, ask your doc for a sample of this med. Highly effective abortive for a number of us; low cost, per dose, than the usual abortives.
--------
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

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

Here is a link to read and print and take to your doctor.  It describes preventive, transitional, abortive and surgical treatments for CH. Written by one of the better headache docs in the U.S.  (2002)
================
Michigan Headache & Neurological Institute for another list of treatments and other articles:

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


 

Wow Saxman!!  So sorry to hear the beast is messin with your Christmas..sending PF vibes and prayers your way this morning....

BTW, check your PM's

Dallas Denny

thanks Bob, I hope i can reach a dr today, 15 minutes a week ago at the er was 1100 bucks,

Almost all of our collective experience says that the ER is one of the worst places to look for help. If you have the option, seek a headache specialist. Even the mass of neurologists do not have the training or experience needed for complex headache disorders.
=========
LOCATING HEADACHE SPECIALIST

1. Search the OUCH site (button on left) for a list of recommended M.D.s.

2. Yellow Pages phone book: look for "Headache Clinics" in the M.D. section and look under "neurologist" where some docs will list speciality areas of practice.

3.  Call your hospital/medical center. They often have an office to assist in finding a physician. You may have to ask for the social worker/patient advocate.

4. START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE; On-line screen to find a physician.

5. START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE Look for "Physician Finder" search box.  Call 1-800-643-5552; they will send a list of M.D.s for your state.I suggest using this source for several reasons: first, we have read several messages from people who, even seeing neurologists, are unhappy with the quality of care and ATTITUDES they have encountered; second, the clinical director of the Jefferson (Philadelphia) Headache Clinic said, in late 1999, that upwards of 40%+ of U.S. doctors have poor training in treating headache and/or hold attitudes about headache ("hysterical female disorder") which block them from sympathetic and effective work with the patient; third, it's necessary to find a doctor who has experience, skill, and a set of attitudes which give hope of success. This is the best method I know of to find such a physician.

I have tried klonopin, xanax, valium, ativan, etc. at bedtime and it never effected my ch. I have anxiety issues and take benzoids frequently for that reason.  Currently I am on ativan.  You may want to try it because we all act differently to meds.  But be warned that it will show up on a drug test.

thanks Karla, I just wanted to make sure it wasn't a known trigger, i need to sleep tonite have to work tomorrow

What about melatonin for sleep? It is more likely to help with clusters than benzos like clonipin.

great advice Monty!!!  Try melatonin it is known to help clusterheads avoid hits and get some sleep at bedtime.  The Klonopin is not a recomended and tried approach.  I would really recomend the melatonin route.

I'll be honest that sleep aids were a big nono for me in cycle..... Id just get hit harder and be groggy.

That's just ME though.... so don't take it as for sure.

Could someone here help our friend here with cheap O2 ideas?

Samples of Zyprexa are a great idea.  They work so well for me.

PFDAN Ahead for you!