I've been suffering from cluster headaches off and on since 2008.I was only diagnosed this month.They had been going six months this time,getting worse and worse in frequency.I was having 6 a day,4 while sleeping.I'd sleep 3 hours,and get my first.Slam your head on the floor painful,but I was fortunate they only lasted about 40 minutes.So exhausted I couldn't move after,I'd go back to sleep,wake up in an hour with another.That would repeat twice.I started verapamil on the 9th.By the third night,I still had 4 episodes at night,but they were mild,just enough to wake me,but mild enough I'd fall back asleep during.By the 4th night,I had no episodes.Since that 4th night,I have only had 1 full blown cluster headache.I only get a mild one here and there.I am almost 100% pain free.I was close to decorating the ceiling with my brain and probably most of my head.Side effects,none.That is my experience with verapamil

*Last month,my bad

Hello Jeramy,

Welcome to CH.com. There is a wealth of experience here for you to tap into and it's available around the clock, all year long.

It's great to hear that you are currently pain free. That's what we all search for.

Verapamil works very well for a lot of Clusterheads, but it's not strictly true to say there are no side effects. It causes low blood pressure for example and it's important that your Doctor is monitoring that. Long term use of any medicines has consequences.

Have you read up on the D3 regimen?

Best regards,

Peter.

Jeramy,

It's really GREAT to hear about your progress! Vera (Verapamil) was my girlfriend for many years.

CH's have a nasty habit of morphing. Invest in your future and read more here, then read even more.

Jump in with questions!

Marc

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Quote:

Verapamil may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:     constipation     heartburn     dizziness or lightheadedness     headache Some side effects can be serious. If you experience any of the following symptoms, call your doctor immediately or get emergency medical treatment :     swelling of the hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs     difficulty breathing or swallowing     slow heartbeat     fainting     blurred vision     rash     nausea     extreme tiredness     unusual bleeding or bruising     lack of energy     loss of appetite     pain in the upper right part of the stomach     yellowing of the skin or eyes     flu-like symptoms     fever

What seems to be the more common ones are the tiredness, lowered blood pressure and constipation (I'm sure the tablets contain concrete dust).

Lists of med side effects are seriously misleading when the % is not shown. In a full listing the data will report a range of less than 1% and up. Without the % data, it's impossible to make a reasonable judgment about the real life concern.

Useful reports indicate doses in the upper ranges which we use (about 500mg and up), a routine EKG should be part of the treatment. And reports are that even with an EKG which shows a heart rhythm , it resolves quickly when the Ver. is stopped, not a serious issue.

Given the long history of safe use, there is little reason to avoid using it as long as thee isn't a history of heart problems.

I had good results with Verapamil at first when I started on it ,  after about 4-6 months the HAs started creeping back in , I went to larger doses and that helped somewhat .
In the end out of desperation I tried this D3 program found here .
I suffered the same night time problems you describe and since starting on the D3 suppliments it has gone away .
I strongly suggest you at least give it a try ! The stuff is better for you than prescriptions .
And it sounds to me like you could benefit from it.
Something as simple as a Vitamin D shortage in your system can cause these headaches.