I have had cluster headaches for the past 20 years, and have been put on different meds when ever they come back.  But for the last 15 years, when ever they come back I have been put on Depakote and Verapamil.  It has always worked.  I use the oxygen until the meds kick in and it sure does work to help make the headache a little more bearable and shorter.  Then when the Depakote and Verapamil kick in I will be fine, take it for a year or two and then go off of it until the headaches return (the longest they have been gone without meds is 1 1/2 years and the longest they have stayed with no meds is 9 months straight).  My question is...This time they came back and the pharmacy gave me Divalproex ER (generic for Depakote ER) and it has been almost three months I have been on the meds, if I miss a pill (one out of the two I take a day), I will get a headache, even if I don't miss taking one I will sometimes still get one or two or three headaches in day.  Still better then having several a day for 9 months straight!!!!  I have NEVER had that problem with the "brand name" Depakote.  Is anyone else having this problem with generic Depakote??????? :-/ 

I don't have any experience with depakote or its generic. Sadly, it is the nature of the beast to morph. Lithium used to block 90% of my attacks at 900 mg a day. Now when I go on cycle I use 1200 mg a day and I'm happy if it blocks 60-70% of my attacks.

Hopefully someone with experience and info on generic vs. trade name will chime in. Keep in mind, it might just be the beasty pulling a morph routine, he does that. :(

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there have been some pretty significant changes in how oxygen is best used for CH. Take a quick look see at this link and make sure you're getting the maximum benefit. Wishing you a short cycle and some pain free time soon.

Joe

Thanks for the reply!  Hoping to find out some answers soon and hoping that I don't have to change meds, but will do anything!  Oxygen is a wonderful thing!!!!

Not very likely to be the generic. By law, they are to be equivalent in clinical action to the brand product.

I'd ask you druggist if he is getting any reports of problems. They have one of he best pipelines for up to date information.

I am less than sanguine about the so called equivalency of generic meds... based on personal (therefore anecdotal) experience with several, but especially one med....for which I gladly pay significantly extra.

Best,

Jon

If the generic is the problem, then I would be happy to pay whatever the cost for name brand Depakote (since insurance is so messed up now a days)!  This is the first time a pharmacy has ever given me the generic.  Next refill I will find out when I start taking the name brand, if the generic is the problem.

Over the years I've become aware/concerned with how easily folks will make important decisions based on impulse, "A" suggestion from people who are unknown (in terms of the other's knowledge/skill, etc., despair, and so on.

We are vulnerable because the human mind often foregoes reason for assurance. A fundamental problem is our educational system which doesn't teach us some basic skill in logic and analysis. (It's remarkable to see studies of college grads who, after four-years, have the same skills, in this area, as they had four years earlier.)

One suggestion, one case, is not definitive data. A list of side effects is a statement of POSSIBILITIES. It is not a PREDICTION of what will occur. Wisdom calls for knowing both the risk and asking the doc what to look for, i.e., symptoms of side effects. But the answer is still not very clear in so many medical issues.

In this case, ask those authorities around you. The last option, if answers are not satisfying, is to run a trial: Use a generic for X-weeks and then the brand version and see how your body reacts.

Even that may not be conclusive for we know that the placebo effect is powerful, as one can easily see from reading drug trial outcomes.

Bob Johnson wrote on Aug 4^th, 2011 at 4:33pm:

I totally agree with everything Bob said here...especially with how well it is stated... he is a particular hero of mine...and I have no wish to "argue"...but do wish to fill in some color to my comments.... Over the years I've become aware/concerned with how easily folks will make important decisions based on impulse, "A" suggestion from people who are unknown (in terms of the other's knowledge/skill, etc., despair, and so on. ...exactly, which is why I try to buffer my comments....e.g. "personal/anecdotal" which just screams opinion, not fact..... We are vulnerable because the human mind often foregoes reason for assurance. A fundamental problem is our educational system which doesn't teach us some basic skill in logic and analysis. (It's remarkable to see studies of college grads who, after four-years, have the same skills, in this area, as they had four years earlier.) One of the few and far between "benefits" of ch (for ME)...is that it has engendered in me an ability to "read my body" way better than most folks I know. Perhaps a honing of the survival instinct? Nothing impulsive about it...I read the signs, note the effects of this or that, repeat the exercise to confirm or deny...and move on from there. This especially true with the powerful drugs I use for this condition AND others..... One suggestion, one case, is not definitive data. A list of side effects is a statement of POSSIBILITIES. It is not a PREDICTION of what will occur. Wisdom calls for knowing both the risk and asking the doc what to look for, i.e., symptoms of side effects. But the answer is still not very clear in so many medical issues. In this case, ask those authorities around you. The last option, if answers are not satisfying, is to run a trial: Use a generic for X-weeks and then the brand version and see how your body reacts. In my case, I asked the Doc about this brand drug vs generic. He cared not a whit...and with script pad poised asked..."which do you want me to write?" Also asked the Pharm...who said he had heard "a few" reports like mine...used the same med himself...and said he preferred the brand name.... Even that may not be conclusive for we know that the placebo effect is powerful, as one can easily see from reading drug trial outcomes. Yup...the placebo effect is incredibly powerful. Since I thought I noticed a difference (decrease) in efficacy after being switched to the generic....and had a supply of each.... doing as Bob advised above... I placed ea in separate (hidden) label bottles...and  did a trial...without knowing which was which...and swallowing without looking at. Noted the effects of each...it was evident that the brand name was much more effective. I was, and remain convinced...this generic is not as effective (for me) as the brand. Have also noted this in several other meds...but NOT all. There is only one way to determine this for yourself.... Best, Jon

I should apologize that I didn't make it clear: My comments were broad, general statements not intended to be an oblique statement about you.

You approach is about the best you can do. In the end, you got what you wanted--relief.

There has been some speculation that while a generic may have 100% of the brand contents, the mfg can add some other ???, for whatever reason, which may alter individual response. It's the wonderful mystery of the art of medicine and the marvel of our bodies!

How neat it would be if we could learn how to trigger off a positive placebo response and get relief for the price of a sugar pill!

Bob Johnson wrote on Aug 5^th, 2011 at 10:53am:

How neat it would be if we could learn how to trigger off a positive placebo response and get relief for the price of a sugar pill!

It would be, right up to the point where we learn it's a placebo.

Mike, No! Then we would have a placebo trigger to make us believe that the first placebo was a genuine cure!

I mean: Politicians do it all the time.