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Cluster Headache Help and Support >> Medications,  Treatments,  Therapies >> Lithium?
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Message started by brittbrat on Nov 17th, 2010 at 6:29pm

Title: Lithium?
Post by brittbrat on Nov 17th, 2010 at 6:29pm
I've read lithium as one of the treatments. What is lithium suppose to help? Is anyone trying it as a treatment option, and does it help any?

Title: Re: Lithium?
Post by thebbz on Nov 17th, 2010 at 6:35pm
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check me if I am wrong,,,I think lithium is covered here.
the bb
edit; it does help many, others not.

Title: Re: Lithium?
Post by brittbrat on Nov 17th, 2010 at 6:45pm
It did, thanks.

Title: Re: Lithium?
Post by Guiseppi on Nov 17th, 2010 at 7:01pm
I'm a 50 year old male, 32 year Ch sufferer, episodic. Been using lithium as my prevent for the last 15-20 years, has been my silver bullet. Used to block 70-80% of my attacks, has lost a little bit of its effectiveness over the years but still blocks 60-70% of my attacks. the break thru's are easily shot down with oxygen and the rare shot of imitrex.

Very few side effects for me. You pee a lot the first few weeks, requires a couple of blood tests to establish what your doseage is. Been magic for me. Don't let the Hollywood mouth breathing zombie stereotype scare you, if i didn't tell you i was taking it you'd never know. The little bit of lethargy it causes me is easily overcome with a cup of coffee.

Joe

Title: Re: Lithium?
Post by Brew on Nov 17th, 2010 at 7:20pm
I'm the Hollywood mouth breathing zombie stereotype. It helped me.

Seriously, I've taken it in the past in combination with verapamil - known as the "chronic cocktail." Kept me pain free for a long, long time.

Title: Re: Lithium?
Post by Karla on Nov 17th, 2010 at 7:33pm
I took 900 mg a day and it cut the number of ha down from 8 a day to 3-4 day.  The intensity of the remaining ch was a lot less also.  kip 4-6 vs kip 10.  It didnt make me tired at all.  I had no problems on it.  However it did eventually loose its effectiveness for me and I had to quit taking it.

Title: Re: Lithium?
Post by E-Double on Nov 17th, 2010 at 8:18pm

Brew wrote on Nov 17th, 2010 at 7:20pm:
I'm the Hollywood mouth breathing zombie stereotype. It helped me.

Seriously, I've taken it in the past in combination with verapamil - known as the "chronic cocktail." Kept me pain free for a long, long time.


Those were the last meds I tried and to be honest the best as far as preventative qualities for me.
I developed toxicity though and that led me to go med free.,

It did have good results though

Title: Re: Lithium?
Post by Chris H on Nov 18th, 2010 at 12:52pm
I've been using Lithium with Verapamil as prevent. I get some tremors in my left hand since starting it, may need to stop. This only happens to a small percentage of people. It reduced the number of hits for me. -Chris

Title: Re: Lithium?
Post by Brew on Nov 18th, 2010 at 2:19pm
The hand tremor will happen to anyone who is starting to suffer lithium toxicity. It's one of the first signs.

Your doc may (nay, SHOULD) want to have your serum lithium level checked every couple of months until you find a dose that's both therapeutic and non-toxic.

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