I'm Kevin. Haven't been on this website in about 10yrs. I didn't find much info back then, so i just went on my way. I am 36 and have had CHs since I was 20. Went through multiple ignorant doctors and have been on multiple meds like most others. Only thing ever worked was imitrex injection. Cost was too much a factor so I quit them 8yrs ago. I had been CH free for about 5yrs with only 5-10 headaches showing up each year. Well all vacations eventually come to a end. I have been in a nasty series for the past 3 weeks and the old coping methods don't work, but I found a new one, cold shower, that helps. I read about the Kudzu and have been on it for 3days with no relief but it is still too early to tell. Anyways, hello again but forgive me if I am not really happy to be back.

I just registered on this site yesterday, and coincidentally just tried Oxygen therapy for the first time yesterday as well.  After a 3 1/2 year vacation since my last cycle I had my first cluster headache this cycle about a week ago.  I was thrilled to find that the Oxygen really works.  I was awakened at 2:00AM with one coming on.  I could tell immediately it was going to be one of those that takes no prisoners, the pain seemed to be increasing every 30 seconds.  I immediately started the Oxygen, and within 10 - 15 minutes the pain had subsided.  After 20 mins I shut it off and was able to fall right back to sleep.  I am still a fan of Imatrex, it's a wonder drug, but I just can't afford it.  I hope the O2 keeps working, it's a life saver.

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To get you up to speed on where treatments are, the PDF file, below, is the latest evaluation of comonly used meds.
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As a very effective option of Imitrex, a number of us have had excellent success with this one. The advantage is the cost-per-dose cost, about $3 the last time I bought it. Pill is convenient; and effective in from 15-20 min.

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.
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Since this abstract was first posted Zyprexa has appeared in some lists of recommended meds for CH. [BJ]

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Hello Kev and JBOGG, and welcome! And too bad you are here but you should know, it's a great place to be if you need it. I don't know what the site was like when you first checked it out, Kev, but I can tell you, as a chronic, I found it was a lifesaver. Literally. Yes, the O2 is nearly a universal panacea for us all. As is imitrex. Yes, shots are expensive but if you don't mind poking yourself with a bare needle the imitrex tip does stretch one vial to 3 doses. And there are a bunch of helpful suggestions here for both preventatives and abortives. Grab a notepad and pen and read and take notes. It's a good exercise for you as it puts you back in control of this thing, and you'll find there are a lot of irons you can put into the fire. Good luck, and keep us in touch. Blessings. lance

Welcome to both of you! Kevin, the good news is there are lots of treatments available now that weren't known or at least not widely known even a few years ago. Under meds section, read the thread pain free 123 days and I think I know why. It's a simple daily regimen of vit D-3, fish oil and, calcium magnesium and zinc that's providing relief for many.

Oxygen, cheap, fast, effective, portable, not a lot to dislike. The prevents like Verapamil, Lithium, Topomax, the non tradional treatments such as Kudzu, mushrooms, and RC seeds discussed more fully in our sister site clusterbusters.com

The old days of grin and bear the pain are long behind us, hope we can steer you to a path that works for you. It's critical you find a neuro who specializes in headache disorders as that's your best bet at  a decent treatment regimen.

Joe