Your med can be adding to the problem but not a real issue. I love dried fruit as a snack food and it takes very little of it to keep everything comfortable and working.

I don't think it's related to CH although one may wonder if stress if a factor ????

The meds may not be the original cause, but they may exacerbate it.

If it is severe, tell your Doc and get some chemical drain cleaner.

I voiced this same concern re verapamil to Dr Robinson at the Vancouver OUCH convention.  He just looked at me and said, we can take of that.

Constipation is a documented possible side effect of isoptin/verapamil. Calcium and Magnesium activity is needed for the smooth muscle in the gut to go through the normal contraction/relaxation cycles that move food.  Fiber alone might not fix this problem, though it is great for ordinary constipation and worth a try.  Magnesium might help, and you might need to use a stool softener or gentle laxative.  Also, drinking more water is generally good for constipation.

Quote:

I found this forum by searching for cluster headache and constipation.  I've been episodic for 6 years.  Each cycle is now getting longer apart (thank goodness).  For me I get constipated prior to taking medication with CH.  When I'm on medication I use a colon cleanser called oxypowder to get myself going when I can't go for a day.  But every cycle is proceeded by constipation issues before medication.

I hate verapamil for that one reason once I start taking it.  I'd love to find a way to break the cycles without prednisone or verapamil.  I've even resorted to using cayenne pepper extract in a saline nasal spray.  It does seem to help some.  I just started that in the current cycle I'm in.  Right now it's not the mind blowing pain yet.  Just the beginning of a cycle.  I went two years being told it's a sinus headache.