Has anyone ever been prescribed prednisone to knock out a cycle?

My last cycle was 1.5 years ago and now I am starting again.  The doctor just put me on Prednisone.

I take Verapamil 180 (maximum dosage) and when I get a headache I use MAXALT to halt it.  That ususally works in about 20 minutes.

Prednisone is the standard transitional med.  It is usually taken at 50-80 mg for 5 days followed by a one to two week taper.  I believe it's effective 80% of the time in ending a cycle.  It is a bit harsh on the system though. 
You may want to look around at the site for some more information on verapamil.  Your dose seems a little low for effective treatment of CH. 
Also have a read through the 123 days and pain free thread.  There is a lot of information in there on a new therapy that is successful for a lot of people. 

Thanks!  I'll read the threads you suggested.  I have never been prescribed Prednisone before.  Sorry about the misinformation... I actually take 180 mg of Verapamil 3x a day (one dose in the am and two before bed) so a total of 540 mg. and my doctor says that is the maximum he wants me to take.

I have never really tried any other treatments because Verapmil has been effective so far in helping to give me pretty big gaps between cycles. for the past 6 years I have had only 3 cycles...now starting the 4th cycle since 2006.  Before 2006 I had many more cycles while I tried to get the doasage of Verapamil right.

The Prednisone I am on now is 40mg/day for a week.

Jillsusan,
40/mg day is midway dosage for Pred taper and as you decrease dosage do beware and prepared of the repeat offender.

See a thread titled "Verapamil Dosage", lots of info

Good Luck ;)
-Gregg in Las Vegas

Pred should knock out attacks within a couple of days. IF it doesn't, that a sign that starting over at a high dose is indicated. Effective starting dose ranges from 40 to 100mg.

Just your learning, print out the PDF file, below. It's a good tool to use to discuss options with the doc.

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I am also on prednisone, 30 mg a day for about a month or so before I taper off.  I usually take that dose through the worst of my cycle.  It definitely helps but doesn't block out all headaches though.  I might go a couple days without getting a CH and then boom!, that seems to be the pattern.  If I wasn't on anything it would be a certain 3 attacks a day though so it's an improvement.  I am wondering if I should be taking a higher dose?  I am also wondering why it is hard on the system compared to other similar drugs?  What is Verapamil?  I am in my 9th cycle now since 2001.  First day back on CH.com since my cycle has just started up again.  I have a lot to catch up on.

I am on a prednisone taper right now plus a low dose of Verapamil to titrate up over the weeks. I've taken it before for regular migraine cycles and it's been effective. It's not doing much for this cluster headache stuff though.

Interesting to read about what others have been prescribed in the way of Prednisone.  My Dr. has previously prescribed me a 15 day taper where i do 5 days of 30 mg., 5 days of 20, and 5 days of 10 (pills i get are 10 mg).  When i'm taking the Pred, my clusters usually are supressed within a day or two, but always after ending the taper they come back. Does not work as a "cycle breaker" for me.  As mentioned, i HIGHLY encourage you to look at the 123 thread. I've recently started a a cycle, started the vitamin regimen at the same time and have had some promising results. 

I'm coming to the end of my 60 mg Pred taper with 480 mg Verapamil ER.

I'm usually PF after a day or two, but when the Pred runs out, I'm either right bcak to where I was or the Verap has kicked in and holds the beast a bay for a while.

My doc uses methylprednisolone - I think it's an active metabolite of prednisone, have tried two rounds starting at 28mg to no avail --- does anybody know of a conversion to pred, to give me an idea of an equivalent?  I need to go higher if we try again - I've been in cycle for a month after being pf for 1.5 years, and the last two tapers only got it to 2 hits day, down from 5 at the high point ---

Jamie,
I started the thread.  I have been taking Verapamil ER (180mg 3X/day) for about 10 years.  I have been a cluster sufferer for about 16 years.  I am now 44.  My cycles were much worse/frequent before I was able to get on a good dosage of Verapamil in 2006.  I was up to three a day and the doc wanted to try to see if I could taper off a bit and as soon as I did I started with a cycle.

Verapamil is a vaso-diolator used primarily for controlling high blood pressure.  I have never had high blood pressure (usually mine is low) and so I was hesitant at first to try it.  My doctor told me about 10 years ago that it was being used with lots of success to treat cluster headaches.  I went right on it and played around with dosages until I got one that worked to keep me pain free for longer periods of time.  I have had time where 2 years have gone by without a cycle.  It doesn't keep them away for good for most people, but I do believe that for me, being on it has decreased the intensity, length and frequency of my cycles.

I hope things are going well and that you are able to discuss it with your doctor. :)

My neuro prescribed it to me early in my diagnosis.  Unfortunately, I don't know if it would have worked against my clusters or not since I wound up having a bad reaction to it.  It IS harsh on the system, so follow the directions exactly as they state.  Good luck, and let us know how it works for you!

60-80 mg to start for me of pred. I can't imagine 30 mg doing much good. Doesn't ever kill a cycle for me, just buys some PF days. Being chronic they start over when the taper is down to about 30mg.

Nasty stuff. Shuts down your body's natural steroid production. Can compromise immune system. Must be tapered when discontinuing to give your body's natural steroid production a chance to restart. I realize this is basic info for most, but worth repeating.

Cosworth wrote on Jan 11^th, 2012 at 1:45pm:

Interesting to read about what others have been prescribed in the way of Prednisone.  My Dr. has previously prescribed me a 15 day taper where i do 5 days of 30 mg., 5 days of 20, and 5 days of 10 (pills i get are 10 mg).  When i'm taking the Pred, my clusters usually are supressed within a day or two, but always after ending the taper they come back. Does not work as a "cycle breaker" for me.  As mentioned, i HIGHLY encourage you to look at the 123 thread. I've recently started a a cycle, started the vitamin regimen at the same time and have had some promising results.

Starting a taper at 30mg dose is most likely Methylprednisolone which is very similar but more potent than "regular" Prednisone often started at 80mg or 100mg and then tapered down.

I found a conversion calculator - START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE - and 28 mgs of methylprednisolone is equal to 35 mgs of prednisone - not really high enough to break a cycle, I'm going to ask for a higher taper next time -

Predinsone stops my clusters temporarily, but the attacks always start back up again when the dose gets lower. I ONLY respond to doses 60mg a day or higher. By the time I ge tto 30-40 mg a day, it's useless ... BUT the taper MUST Be continued as directed or you can become very sick due to your immune system being compromised. SO don't abruptly stop steroid tapers.

ALso, steroids should be used sparingly or it'll cause LOTS of problems. I got AVN ( A Vascular Necrosis ) from chronic steroid use. So be careful. That stuff is both helpful and dangerous when used correctly or incorrectly.

Good Luck to you !

Hello again.  I was on prednisone and taper for about 3 weeks... back in January.  The cycle got knocked out and I have been pain free up until 4 days ago when I started with one mild headache each day. By "mild" I  mean "not nearly as severe as what I am used to."  :o  Although my cluster cycles usually start out weaker and intensify and then get weaker again toward the end of the cycle. I'm taking Maxalt to halt the headaches. 
I'm trying to decide if I should call the doctor.  I will need to call him to get more Maxalt soon.  But I don't want to go back on prednisone again.  Although I will go on it if I can get relief...especially if the clusters get stronger.  I'm just worried now that I'm starting to get cycles more frequently after I had been having such success.  My last cycle before this past January was in May 2010. :'(

I also realized that both this cycle and the one back in January started right after I had a cold with lots of nasal congestion.  I don't take decongestants as I think they trigger clusters for me.  I did take Zicam.  Not sure if there is a link between clusters and zinc.

Should I just go back on the Prednisone if this cycle doesn't quit soon and he wants to put me on it again????   :-/

 

Hi Jill

Have you tried using oxygen to kill your CHs? Using a non-rebreather mask and 25lpm flow rate I can kill off mine in about 5 minutes, which is a lot quicker than Maxalt melts plus you can use oxygen many times a day.

Another alternative is to use imitrex injections which are also quicker than Maxalts, but you can't use them in conjunction with Maxalts.

Ask your doctor about both and read up about oxygen on the link at the left.

I discussed oxygen with my doctor today and just finished my first SUCCESSFUL O2 abort...it took 11 minutes for full abort... 20 minute treatment (6L) started treatment at the first signs of attack. 

Going to keep at this and increase my vitamin D3 again, based on the fact that my blood tests were normal when I was on 6000 IU.  Hope to avoid going on Prednisone.

Great news on the oxygen, now increase the flow rate to at least 15lpm and 25lpm if possible and you'll see your abort times drop dramatically. At 25lpm I am pain free in about 5 minutes or less.