havnt seen anything about elavil on the site (other than me) and wanted to share. i tried it after a bad cycle where i was in a bad imatrex rebound thing i guess, it was the first one i ever had so not real sure. i was doing my nightly injections for a couple days then it went to eight hours between shoots for a day then the next day within four hours i could feel the imitrex wearing off and by six hours another shot. well when i got to the doc he had me try elavil and i took double of what he perscribed 50mg and it word great at stoping the headachesbut it did wipe me out tho. i went to the 25 mg the following days but was very tired and depresed, i even droped to 12.5 mg and was getting used to that but the ch's started to come back but not as sever more of a regular headache kind of pain. i would recomend trying elavil if you are in a bad cycle as it brought relief that night but i would warn of the side effects. im not sure i could have worked the next day after the 50mg i was wiped out but 25 may have been enough to bring relief? just wanted to share

If I'm reading your message correctly, you were taking Imitrex injections as often as every 6-hours. Did your doc prescribe this frequency? Did he put you on a med to prevent attacks (along with the Imitrex?)

he perscribed the imitrex but i had never used it more than twice a day till that last cycle. usually one a day for most of a cycle (6-10 day cycles last few years) with two a day once or twice in the middle. i had tried maxalt before but it didnt work and with only 3 or 4 cycles a year imitrex was all i used. im sure the imitrex was only prescribed at once a day. the elavil was the first preventative drug ive taken and since it was causing depression and weight gain im now starting topamax which has its own side effects. the rebound cycle was this last jan so im new to these drugs.

I encourage you to find a headache specialist and start reading the basic materials on how to treat CH.
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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. 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.

6. START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE NEW certification program for "Headache Medicine" by the United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties, an independent, non-profit, professional medical organization.
        Since this is a new program, the initial listing is limited and so it should be checked each time you have an interest in locating a headache doctor.
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See PDF file, below.
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Cluster headache.
From: START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE (Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases)
[Easy to read; one of the better overview articles I've seen. Suggest printing the full length article--link, line above--if you are serious about keeping a good medical library on the subject.]

Leroux E, Ducros A.

ABSTRACT: Cluster headache (CH) is a primary headache disease characterized by recurrent short-lasting attacks (15 to 180 minutes) of excruciating unilateral periorbital pain accompanied by ipsilateral autonomic signs (lacrimation, nasal congestion, ptosis, miosis, lid edema, redness of the eye). It affects young adults, predominantly males. Prevalence is estimated at 0.5-1.0/1,000. CH has a circannual and circadian periodicity, attacks being clustered (hence the name) in bouts that can occur during specific months of the year. ALCOHOL IS THE ONLY DIETARY TRIGGER OF CH, STRONG ODORS (MAINLY SOLVENTS AND CIGARETTE SMOKE) AND NAPPING MAY ALSO TRIGGER CH ATTACKS. During bouts, attacks may happen at precise hours, especially during the night. During the attacks, patients tend to be restless. CH may be episodic or chronic, depending on the presence of remission periods. CH IS ASSOCIATED WITH TRIGEMINOVASCULAR ACTIVATION AND NEUROENDOCRINE AND VEGETATIVE DISTURBANCES, HOWEVER, THE PRECISE CAUSATIVE MECHANISMS REMAIN UNKNOWN. Involvement of the hypothalamus (a structure regulating endocrine function and sleep-wake rhythms) has been confirmed, explaining, at least in part, the cyclic aspects of CH. The disease is familial in about 10% of cases. Genetic factors play a role in CH susceptibility, and a causative role has been suggested for the hypocretin receptor gene. Diagnosis is clinical. Differential diagnoses include other primary headache diseases such as migraine, paroxysmal hemicrania and SUNCT syndrome. At present, there is no curative treatment. There are efficient treatments to shorten the painful attacks (acute treatments) and to reduce the number of daily attacks (prophylactic treatments). Acute treatment is based on subcutaneous administration of sumatriptan and high-flow oxygen. Verapamil, lithium, methysergide, prednisone, greater occipital nerve blocks and topiramate may be used for prophylaxis. In refractory cases, deep-brain stimulation of the hypothalamus and greater occipital nerve stimulators have been tried in experimental settings.THE DISEASE COURSE OVER A LIFETIME IS UNPREDICTABLE. Some patients have only one period of attacks, while in others the disease evolves from episodic to chronic form.

PMID: 18651939 [PubMed]
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A new (for me) site which is worth your attention: medical literature, films, plus the expected information
about CH.

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

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i have an appointment this wed at michigan headache and neurological institute and hopefully will know more after that. as far as the elevil i just hadnt seen anyone mention it and thought with some people saying they have found no relief or couldnt afford treatments (elavil is one of the cheaper ones) it might be something for them to talk to there dr about. its side effects were harsh but it help the first night. if im in left field or this means i dont have ch or something sorry just trying to help

Of course we realize you are just trying to help.   :)

Elevil was used a long time ago in the hope of being a preventative.  Now-a-days though MOST folks find more relief with Lithium, Verapamil, Topomax etc.


Quote:

fastteamster Posted on: Today at 2:57pm i have an appointment this wed at michigan headache and neurological institute and hopefully will know more after that.

Please keep us updated on what they say.

Linda

Small world, I live about 9 mi east of MHNI and in fact I get my O2 right around the corner from there @ Wright Fillipis. I haven't been seen at MHNI but was at there inpatient facility at Chelsea Hospital for 6 days of IV DHE.

MHNI is world known for head pain treatment. I've met Dr. Joel Saper, one of the top Doc's there. Also, I've taken Elavil for CH some years ago but it did little if anything for me.

If you ever want to talk to or meet another Michigan CH'r let me know and I'll PM you my number. I've had CH for 23 yrs, I now use HIGH FLOW O2 to abort 97% of my hits. It really works when used properly. I have DHE-45 self IM injections for the break aways.

Don

I take 50 mg of elavil every night, unfortunately, it doesn't work for me. However, I'm thrilled it works for you!
Richard

Quote:

(6-10 day cycles last few years)

Why take anything, especially a preventative.  Just gut them out and be done with it.