Hi. Starting about 22 hours ago, I've been having a headache every hour.  They take about 10 minutes to build up and last about 30 minutes and then are gone.  I had 10-11 of them yesterday, then took sleep meds and slept upright for 8 hours.  This morning they are back.  They range from a K4-K8, getting worse as the day goes on.  Are these cluster headaches (I though clusters only hit up to 8x a day)?  It's the weekend so I can't get any new meds. I only have Compazine and Imitrex Oral.  What should I do?

Thanks for your help!

Yes, they could be cluster headaches. Are you working with a decent headache specialist neuro? Do you have oxygen to abort the attacks with? The meds you describe indicate a doctor who does not know how to treat CH. That's why I asked about a neurologist, specifically a headache specialist.

For now, get someone to pick you up some energy drinks. Monster, Rock Star, Red Bull, any containing the combo of caffiene and taurine. Chug one down at the start of an attack. It helps to abort/reduce an attack for many. For me, it pushes the comebacker attack back several hours, might buy you some relief until you can get to a doctor. Then get to a decent  headache speciliast neuro. It's your best chance at an accurate diagnosis and an effective treatmnet plan.

Joe

Thanks for your reply. I will get some energy drinks. I had posted some extra details of my headache situation on my Getting to know you post. Basically, I saw my GP on Monday who gave me Imitrex oral to rule out migraines. By Tuesday evening I was in the ER because the headaches had gotten so much worse. I have an appointment with the GP again tomorrow and will see a specialist in April at the Jefferson Headache Center.  I will ask my GP tomorrow for O2. Hopefully I can make it that long.

Quote:

who gave me Imitrex oral to rule out migraines

How would that rule out migraines???

Imitrex works quite well for both migraineurs and clusterheads.

Call you doc Monday and ask him to push Jefferson for an ER appt vs. waiting until April.

Imitrex pill is the least satisfactory for CH because it's too slow acting. Ask him for injection form.

If cost is a barrier, print following and ask him for a sample or Rx. You will know with 1-2 uses whether it works for you.
---
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.

I had zyprexa before but had to cease because of drowsiness, weight gain and other things.  But when I was taking this pills, I had 0 hit for at least 2 year.  I wonder...   

Pomodoro wrote on Feb 14^th, 2011 at 12:07am:

I had zyprexa before but had to cease because of drowsiness, weight gain and other things.  But when I was taking this pills, I had 0 hit for at least 2 year.  I wonder...

Based on your other post, it seems zyprexa can help in several ways. You were complaining of lack of sleep, and here it causes drowsiness. No pain for 2 years? Go for it! Here is my permission to explore this avenue as a potentially viable means of attacking the beast! lance

Hi guys.  Thanks for all your replies.  I saw my GP yesterday but he's not completely convinced I have cluster headaches.  Mostly because my pain is bilateral and because I don't get a running nose, just post-nasal drip.  Anyway, he decided to treat for cluster headaches anyway.  He prescribed Verapamil and Oxygen along with Tramadol for pain. The Tramadol was useless and the Verapamil is making me totally lightheaded.  Does the lightheadedness go away?  I am hoping to get the Oxygen delivered today.  I also got 5-Hours energy shots and they are helping.

Thanks again!

If you're taking verapamil, you need to limit your taurine intake. The combination can play havoc with your heart rhythms.

jade wrote on Feb 15^th, 2011 at 9:03am:

The Tramadol was useless and the Verapamil is making me totally lightheaded.  Does the lightheadedness go away?  Thanks again!

How much verapamil are you taking on a daily basis?

jade wrote on Feb 15^th, 2011 at 9:03am:

He prescribed Verapamil and Oxygen along with Tramadol for pain. The Tramadol was useless

Skip the tramadol. It's useless for the pain and it can be pretty nasty as it's addictive and not fun when you come off it (from experience).

Thanks again, everyone.  Especially the advice on Verapamil and Taurine.  The GP told me to stop the Verapamil due to the lightheadedness and dizziness.  He had had doubts I would be able to tolerate it anyway.  The Tramadol was useless so I didn't take that more than once either.  But I got my O2!  It works great but I think my cluster cycle might be ending as I have barely had a headache since yesterday morning.  Time will tell.

Great that you have the oxygen. Now, even if this cycle is ending, you've paved the road for future cycles. Stuff to keep in mind for futute cycles...and sadly...the beast ALWAYS comes back. :'(

Re check the 02 link and make sure you are maximizing its effectiveness. The keys, Non Re Breather Mask, minimum flow rate of 15 LPM, get on it at the first sign of an attack.

Check out lithium as a prevent. Forget the hollywood stereotype of lithium zombies, I was a cop for 30 years and at 1200 mg a day you couldn't tell I was on anything!

Hoping you're right and the cycle is winding down. Enjoy the pain free time, stick around here just to stay up to date on treatments.

Joe