Hi, can anyone tell me if the supplement 5-HTP or if SSRI's are effective for CH relief?

Thanks for any info  :)

Used with migraine but not standard meds for CH--as a treatment for the headache.

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Here is a link to read and print and take to your doctor.  It describes preventive, transitional, abortive and surgical treatments for CH. Written by one of the better headache docs in the U.S.  (2002)
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Michigan Headache & Neurological Institute for another list of treatments and other articles:

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--for list of standard treatments.


 

There was a lot of discussion on this site about 5-HTP back in 2009...you can run a search to get it all. Here's a piece of that thread, written by Monty in August of 2009:


Quote:

Some people report benefits, some people say that 5-htp makes things worse. If the problem is only a shortage of serotonin, then 5-htp is a good choice. But if the problem is that some of the types of serotonin receptors are too active, and some are not active enough, then 5-htp might or might not work, or might be painful. Unfortunately, CH seems not to be simply a shortage of serotonin. If a person does have low serotonin, that will limit melatonin production - serotonin is the main building block for melatonin. 5htp usually improves my sleep quality.  The triptans seem to abort CH by increasing activity at the serotonin 1 receptors (mostly 1B and 1D).  Olanzapine and Kudzu block the serotonin 2 receptors (especially 2A and 2C).  Ginger (which is less talked about but a few people here have said it helps) works on the serotonin 3 receptors. IMO, 5-htp might best be used by episodics out of cycle to prevent a cycle. Some of the receptors tend to increase in number when serotonin levels are low ... taking 5htp in cycle could thus cause problems, while taking it out of cycle might gradually reduce the over-active problem receptors.  This is speculation - some of us might have other factors that turn up the wrong receptors, even if serotonin levels are adequate.

My experience was it made things worse, not better. Hope this helps. Blessings. lance

Thank you Bob and Lance.

I was confused as to why I couldn't find anything regarding 5-HTP when I looked before.

Turns out I was using the tab "search" instead of the Google search.. [smiley=ops.gif]