I live in the UK and am currently experiencing my 2nd bout of cluster headaches.  My first was about 9 months ago and came and went fairly quickly within 4 weeks and only had one bout per day.

This time round seems dramitically different.  It has now been 7 weeks and been having 5 bouts a day.  Last night had one for nearly three hours and it felt like I was about to die.  Never had one for quite that long or intense before.  

My doc has tried me on Sumatriptan Nasal Sprays & prednisole which didnt make a dent in them at all.  Now trying almotriptan (not sure what the difference is appart from these being tablets) and pizotifen.

Started to feel like I am at breaking point at the moment.  Trying to explain to people the amount of pain I am in is difficult wihtout seeming like I am exagerating.

Has anyone got any advice on the best ways to avert them.

Nice to feel like I am not the only person in the world feeling this way.

Thanks

 Welcome and sorry that your having such a ruff time.  There is a great letter on the "Getting to Know Ya" page at the top "letter to employers and colleagues" It is good to show to about anyone, but in my 15 years with these ch its hard to get someone to understand what you are going through unless they have gone through it there self.  There are alot of us here that know what it feels like so your not alone.
 Sorry to hear the triptans are not working, there are other meds for aborting an attack like oxygen and energy drinks,  if you havn't tried o2 yet that would be worth a shot it seems to work for about 70% of clusterheads.  Hang in there and read all the links on this site you will find some thing that works.
    pf days and nights,  Phil

Maybe something here,
START PRINTPAGEMultimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or END PRINTPAGE

Imigran injections?

or here
clusterbusters.com

Get some 02,caffeine???
did I mention 02
all the best to you and keep on the good fight.
thebb

O2, O2, O2, in that order. :)

Not trying to be flippant, but most of us here have found it ot be effective, fast, inexpensive, and side effect free, (other than a light headed feeling of relief when the pain goes away in just minutes).

Until you can get some O2 you might try an energy drink like Red Bull.  Slam it down as fast as you can drink at the first sign of an attack.  I have had it abort an attack in as little as 5 minutes if I got it early enough.  You don't want this to be your first line of defense though, but it is good for occasional use.

Jerry

The only thing I'd add to what the other guys have said is to look into a preventative strategy. That's a med you take while on cycle to reduce the number and intensity of your hits. I use lithium at 1200 mg a day while on cycle. Blocks about 80% of my attacks. Oxygen beats down most of the rest. Lithium takes about 10-14 days to become effective for me, I use a prednisone taper during that time, sounds like the pred hasn't worked for you though.

Other common prevents are topomax and verapamil. Might be worth chatting with your doc about.

Sorry you're getting creamed, hang in there, we've all been there. :'(

Guiseppi

Almotriptan is better known as Axert.  It is used as an abortive.  (Imitrex also has tablets but they take far too long to be effective)

Pizotifen is used as a preventative.  I'm glad to see that he is taking a 2=pronged appraoach for you...but please ask him for a script for oxygen also.  

 02 to be delivered with a regulator that goes to  15 to 25 lpm, using a non-rebreather mask (NOT cannulas)  

Linda