Click this link to read a post I like on the clusterheadaches.com message board...

homers

CH.com Newbie

Offline

I Love CH.com!

Posts: 4

annoyed with my doc!!!!
Jul 11^th, 2008 at 4:11pm

hi people,
what a day i've had trying to get my medication today, (sumatriptan), which is on perscription that i got on tuesday, after two acts on tuesday the two injectors good just like that.
as i have often wonder why they only give me two injectors to last me all week is beyond belief.
as i went to the docs today to get my perscription, they could'nt understand why i needed more, any way i finaly got to speak to a doc who told me that " yeah that should'nt be a problem i'll write you one up now and it will be ready in 5 minutes, but i can'nt give you many as it costs( heres the kick in the teeth) 44 pound each!">
What gets me is how can they but a price on someones well being it@s just beyond me>

Back to top

IP Logged

Click Here to visit the CH.com Facebook page!

FramCire

CH.com Alumnus

Offline

Life like a froward child
must be humored a little

Posts: 1710
Bolivar, MO USA
Gender: male

Re: annoyed with my doc!!!!
Reply #1 - Jul 11^th, 2008 at 5:45pm

I think one of the main problems is that triptans are mainly used for migraines and thus here are prescribed 6 per month. However, the use for clusters is more.

This causes problems trying to get the proper amount for cluster use.

Blame the insurance companies and the drug manufacturers, but your doctor probably can't do anything else.

Back to top

You've overstayed your welcome since the day we met but it doesn't seem to matter to you. No medications are your master, nothing makes you fret, it's a helpless feeling having nothing I can do

IP Logged

homers CH.com Newbie Offline I Love CH.com! Posts: 4	Re: annoyed with my doc!!!! Reply #2 - Jul 11^th, 2008 at 5:50pm i know, i suppose it's me trying to find someone to annoy me and i know it's not thier fault. back to the docs on monday and i'm not a one to take drugs normally so we'll see how it goes. thanks for the reply all the best
Back to top	IP Logged

FramCire

CH.com Alumnus

Offline

Life like a froward child
must be humored a little

Posts: 1710
Bolivar, MO USA
Gender: male

Re: annoyed with my doc!!!!
Reply #3 - Jul 11^th, 2008 at 7:09pm

Good luck.

Make sure you print out any info on CH you can find if your doctor doesn't seem to know about them. I also suggest you find a headache specialist. My treatment and medication changed dramatically thanks to the info I found here and through my headache specialist.

I dont know how other do it, but when imitrex was working for me, I used it only when in public when I got hit so I could save the doses for when I needed them.

Back to top

You've overstayed your welcome since the day we met but it doesn't seem to matter to you. No medications are your master, nothing makes you fret, it's a helpless feeling having nothing I can do

IP Logged

DennisM1045

CH.com Alumnus

Offline

One wave at a time!

Posts: 3437
Haverhill, Massachusetts, USA
Gender: male

Re: annoyed with my doc!!!!
Reply #4 - Jul 12^th, 2008 at 8:40am

Relying on triptans with only limited quantities available is a dicey way to go. The stuff is expensive and does a number on your system to boot.

Have you tried Oxygen? If not you should give it a go. 100% Oxygen @ 15lpm can knock out a CH attack in 10-15 minutes. Those nightly barn burners can take a bit longer to deal with.

Using O2 and a good preventative med (verapamil) brought my Imitrex usage down to just a handful of shots last cycle. I didn't even burn through what I'd stockpiled from last cycle.

If you are episodic like me, the other trick is to stockpile imitrex even when you are out of cycle. I know that doesn't help now but it will later.

So when you go back to your Dr, talk to him about a preventative medication to go along with Oxygen and Triptans for aborting the attacks.

Good luck...

-Dennis-

Back to top

Where there is life, there is hope.
Where there is Oxygen, you must use proper caution.
So be safe, don't smoke while using O2. Kill the pain and not yourself.

IP Logged

Bob Johnson

CH.com Alumnus

Offline

"Only the educated are
free." -Epictetus

Posts: 5965
Kennett Square, PA (USA)
Gender: male

Re: annoyed with my doc!!!!
Reply #5 - Jul 12^th, 2008 at 10:59am

Here is another option with the advantages of being less than tripans (on a per dose basis) and is a pill, making for convenience. Several folks here have reported good results.
======
Headache 2001 Sep;41(8):813-6

Olanzapine as an Abortive Agent for Cluster Headache.

Rozen TD.

Department of Neurology, Jefferson Headache Center/Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, Pa.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate olanzapine as a cluster headache abortive agent in an open-label trial. BACKGROUND: Cluster headache is the most painful headache syndrome known. There are very few recognized abortive therapies for cluster headache and fewer for patients who have contraindications to vasoconstrictive drugs. METHODS: Olanzapine was given as an abortive agent to five patients with cluster headache in an open-label trial. The initial olanzapine dose was 5 mg, and the dose was increased to 10 mg if there was no pain relief. The dosage was decreased to 2.5 mg if the 5-mg dose was effective but caused adverse effects. To be included in the study, each patient had to treat at least two attacks with either an effective dose or the highest tolerated dose. RESULTS: Five patients completed the investigation (four men, one woman; four with chronic cluster, one with episodic cluster). Olanzapine reduced cluster pain by at least 80% in four of five patients, and two patients became headache-free after taking the drug. Olanzapine typically alleviated pain within 20 minutes after oral dosing and treatment response was consistent across multiple treated attacks. The only adverse event was sleepiness. CONCLUSIONS: Olanzapine appears to be a good abortive agent for cluster headache. It alleviates pain quickly and has a consistent response across multiple treated attacks. It appears to work in both episodic and chronic cluster headache.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Olanzapine has a brand name of "Zyprexa" and is a antipsychotic. Don't be put off by this primary usage. Several of the drugs used to treat CH are cross over applications, that is, drugs approved by the FDA for one purpose which are found to be effective with unrelated conditions--BJ.

Back to top

Bob Johnson

IP Logged

FramCire

CH.com Alumnus

Offline

Life like a froward child
must be humored a little

Posts: 1710
Bolivar, MO USA
Gender: male

Re: annoyed with my doc!!!!
Reply #6 - Jul 12^th, 2008 at 12:03pm

Bob Johnson wrote on Jul 12^th, 2008 at 10:59am:

Here is another option with the advantages of being less than tripans (on a per dose basis) and is a pill, making for convenience. Several folks here have reported good results.
======
Headache 2001 Sep;41(8):813-6

Olanzapine as an Abortive Agent for Cluster Headache.

Rozen TD.

Department of Neurology, Jefferson Headache Center/Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, Pa.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate olanzapine as a cluster headache abortive agent in an open-label trial. BACKGROUND: Cluster headache is the most painful headache syndrome known. There are very few recognized abortive therapies for cluster headache and fewer for patients who have contraindications to vasoconstrictive drugs. METHODS: Olanzapine was given as an abortive agent to five patients with cluster headache in an open-label trial. The initial olanzapine dose was 5 mg, and the dose was increased to 10 mg if there was no pain relief. The dosage was decreased to 2.5 mg if the 5-mg dose was effective but caused adverse effects. To be included in the study, each patient had to treat at least two attacks with either an effective dose or the highest tolerated dose. RESULTS: Five patients completed the investigation (four men, one woman; four with chronic cluster, one with episodic cluster). Olanzapine reduced cluster pain by at least 80% in four of five patients, and two patients became headache-free after taking the drug. Olanzapine typically alleviated pain within 20 minutes after oral dosing and treatment response was consistent across multiple treated attacks. The only adverse event was sleepiness. CONCLUSIONS: Olanzapine appears to be a good abortive agent for cluster headache. It alleviates pain quickly and has a consistent response across multiple treated attacks. It appears to work in both episodic and chronic cluster headache.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Olanzapine has a brand name of "Zyprexa" and is a antipsychotic. Don't be put off by this primary usage. Several of the drugs used to treat CH are cross over applications, that is, drugs approved by the FDA for one purpose which are found to be effective with unrelated conditions--BJ.

I use this drug as my last case abortive and it works well for me. In fact, outside of O2, it is the only current abortive I have that ever works. I know I am not the only one here who has used this before with success.

Back to top

You've overstayed your welcome since the day we met but it doesn't seem to matter to you. No medications are your master, nothing makes you fret, it's a helpless feeling having nothing I can do

IP Logged

	Welcome, Guest. Please Login or Register
	Search box updated Dec 3, 2011... Search ch.com with Google!