Hey Kelly,

The worst part of all this is that my HA specialist would not prescribe it so I went back to my general / surgical neurologist… As I said earlier in the thread, he gives out scripts like candy so that worked to my advantage…

Roland. 

UnderTheRadar wrote on Dec 19^th, 2008 at 5:26pm:



Never thought you did say you were against seeing a neuro.  My questioning came from your GP's logic that only a psychiatrist could monitor zyprexa when prescribed for CH, which in my opinion is not true .   Thats it... nothing more nothing less.


Kelly

It's cool, Mezza- I should have said "psychiatrist OR neuro"...he has nothing against neuros- it's just that I don't have insurance, but I do have access to psychiatrists here at my college's student health center.

He just doesn't want to touch the stuff if there is an alternative; but for right now, since I seem to be coming out of the cycle (CROSSING FINGERS!!)  he's just concerned with me getting rested and getting my health back.  We agreed that when I'm rested up after the X-mas break, then we'll start looking into preventatives and other options.  

and I'll have to ask him if he knows how low the dosage would be; he might not realize that it's not the same that they give psychotics.  But, uh, do drop us a line if you go "bat shit crazy" on us Roland, m'kay?  

UnderTheRadar wrote on Dec 20^th, 2008 at 1:13am:


No worries Paige, it's all good!...

This Zyprexa has really made a huge difference for me. I am taking just one 5mg per day and the only SE is a slight increase in tinnitus (10 kHz buzz in my ears lasting 5-10 min) No big deal to me. The sleepiness is a given on this stuff.

My nero wrote the script for 1 5mg X 3 day, then 2 per day there after. I just had to relay this because I don’t want to imply that I am playing with my doses (using as a prevent because I get hit every day on the norm). I always wean down on doses but never up above what’s written.

PFW’s all…

Roland.

Laurie,

One 5mg pill per day for first 3 days then two 5mg pill per day after first 3 days.

Roland.

Quote:


Ment to be an abortive, OK'ed by my nero to use as a prevent.

Yeah, when I'm not nauseous I'm going to research it more, too...so, for how long are you supposed to be taking it?  your whole cycle, or "forever" as a preventative?

Did you have a beer today?   

Laurie

Garys_Girl wrote on Dec 22^nd, 2008 at 6:42pm:


No, I'm saving the rest of the 12 pack for my father-in-law on Christmas eve. I did however have 6 on sat and 6 on sun with no event. The Zyprexa is defiantly working great so far. I only wish I was privy to it earlier.

Roland.

PS; I'm starting to feel like a supporter more than victim now!

As of now:

450mg lithium, 150mg every 8 hours
5mg Zyrexa once a day


I have had two hits tonight:

1 at 6pm, K2 and gone in 2 min O2 @ 25lpm flow     (wifes rath)
1 at 11pm, K4 and gone in 5 min O2 at 25lpm flow    (Mom on the phone)


I notice that when I do get close to a hit, the O2 works 50% better than before.

This is only me and by no means applicable directly to how others will respond.

You guy’s know I aint pullin ya leg.

PF&LI,

Roland.

Message #46 implies using Xyprexa routinely (daily) as a preventive. Dr. Rozen, who first reported the effectiveness of Xyprexa, has tested it for prevention and found it not effective.

Suggest you restrict its use as an abortive, it's original application.

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.