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worst pain ever

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Has anyone heard of this or tried it?
Aug 21^st, 2008 at 7:24am

Hello
I was wondering if anyone has tried alprazolam(xanax) to try and get some sleep. I was burnt out after not having slept for about 15 days straight waking every night with the CH. A family friend was visiting and gave me one 1mg tablet of alprazolam to try and help me sleep and lo and behold it worked great I slept for almost 11 hours straight without any CH pain(I get them almost every night like clockwork). I know that taking unprescribed meds is dangerous and stupid but at that point I was willing to try anything. Of course I had 4 attacks of CH the next day but not until much later in the day than usual. I haven't tried this again because I do not like to take meds of any kind especially ones like this that knock you out so completely and have such a high risk of addiction.
PF days to all

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« Last Edit: Aug 21^st, 2008 at 7:25am by worst pain ever »

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Pixie-elf

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I've tried the rest, and
busting is the best!

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Re: Has anyone heard of this or tried it?
Reply #1 - Aug 21^st, 2008 at 7:44am

I've tried 1.5mg of my ativan to try and sleep. It didn't knock me out (that's on top of my 1mg daily theraputic dose.) but I've been considering asking them to prescribe something like this since the melatonin made me feel so bad...

You may want to try Melatonin supplements.

I just remembered, I should try brewing some catnip tea the next time I need to sleep. Tastes yummy and knocks you out.

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Brew Ex Member	Re: Has anyone heard of this or tried it? Reply #2 - Aug 21^st, 2008 at 8:17am Pixie-elf wrote on Aug 21^st, 2008 at 7:44am: I just remembered, I should try brewing some catnip tea the next time I need to sleep. Tastes yummy and knocks you out. But you end up obsessively licking yourself and coughing up hairballs.
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Guiseppi CH.com Moderator CH.com Alumnus Offline San Diego to Florida 05-16-2011 Posts: 12063 SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA USA Gender:	Re: Has anyone heard of this or tried it? Reply #3 - Aug 21^st, 2008 at 10:14am But you end up obsessively licking yourself and coughing up hairballs Umm...THAS messed up.....
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thebbz

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Re: Has anyone heard of this or tried it?
Reply #4 - Aug 21^st, 2008 at 12:21pm

The stress and anxiety are triggers. The xanax works on these triggers. It also makes you drowsy and fatigue is also a trigger. It is a vicious cycle with a very addictive result. I would rather be addicted to xanax than do battle with the demon. Both suck. Lesser of two evils is always a tough choice. Don't fool yourself xanax only treats symptoms. Better to treat the cluster itself.
Any port in a storm.
thebb

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Kimmie CH.com Veteran Offline OW!! Posts: 187 US Gender:	Re: Has anyone heard of this or tried it? Reply #5 - Aug 21^st, 2008 at 12:29pm I take XANAX . 3-5 1mg a day. Nope it doesn't help CH (Not for me anyways).
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Karla CH.com Alumnus Offline One of Many and Never Alone - Join OUCH Posts: 3837 x1\|Madison WI USA Gender:	Re: Has anyone heard of this or tried it? Reply #6 - Aug 21^st, 2008 at 12:56pm I have taken xanax, ativan, klonopin, etc all for anxiety/panic attack issues. It does nothing for the ch. I am glad to hear you got some much needed sleep.
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Bob Johnson CH.com Alumnus Offline "Only the educated are free." -Epictetus Posts: 5965 Kennett Square, PA (USA) Gender:	Re: Has anyone heard of this or tried it? Reply #7 - Aug 21^st, 2008 at 3:04pm That's a low dose for occasional use to help you sleep. Just monitor yourself for any hangover in the morning: no likely but until you know how it affects you.... But NOT a substitute for the main med to deal with the CH.
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Pixie-elf

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I've tried the rest, and
busting is the best!

Posts: 517
Beaumont,Tx
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Re: Has anyone heard of this or tried it?
Reply #8 - Aug 22^nd, 2008 at 8:38am

Quote:

Pixie-elf wrote on Aug 21^st, 2008 at 7:44am:

I just remembered, I should try brewing some catnip tea the next time I need to sleep. Tastes yummy and knocks you out.

But you end up obsessively licking yourself and coughing up hairballs.

Nah, that's only when you eat it dry!

....

not that I'd know anything about that.

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As far as I'm concerned, cluster busting has been the best treatment I've tried. No migraines since I started it, and my hits have gotten so much better. Wanna know more?
Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!! You need to

or

It's saved my life.

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Vomact

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Hampstead, NH USA
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Re: Has anyone heard of this or tried it?
Reply #9 - Aug 22^nd, 2008 at 9:48am

I have taken\tried Klonopin, Ativan, Xanax and Valium for anxiety and depression as well as Restoril to aid sleep during my bouts.
They don't really work on Cluster IMHO. They DO help with the associated anxiety.

Be Warned! Benzodiazepines are ALL dangerous.

Klonopin is (IMHO) the best for anxiety, as it is a long half-life benzo.
It WILL make you sleep if you take enough (any benzo will), however it is a "double benzo" and is ferociously addictive along with Xanax and Ativan. They are long-half life benzo's too.

It took me eight (8) months to taper off of Klonopin when I decided to stop and I still went through withdrawals. It is no fun trying to stop if you become dependent on it. You can become dependent to any of the benzo's in about 2 months. Actual time depends on dosage and the individuals metabolism.

Xanax and Ativan never did work for me. They made me feel weird and did not really eliminate my anxiety. You may feel differently.
It depends on the individual.

Restoril is an intermediate benzo and prescribe almost solely for sleep. It is a nasty benzo too. It was used by both the KGB and CIA as a 'truth serum' and both used it for mind control experiments in the 50's and 60's. You have to make sure that you don't take it for more than 7 days in a row or you will have a problem. You won't be able to get to sleep at all when you stop taking it. Believe me I know from experience.

IMHO Valium is the best. It is a good anxiolytic, it is a short-half life benzo and it has antispasmodic effects that seem to help me during a really bad attack.

In fact, it is generally in most of the IV cocktails they give you in the ER when the beast comes calling and drives you there.

Please See: Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!! You need to

or

before you begin taking them.

Talk to your Dr. about them and understand the dangers.

Hope this helps.

Good luck.

Vomact

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