You don't mention use of preventive meds, e.g., Verapamil...

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Here is a link to read and print and take to your doctor.  It describes preventive, transitional, abortive and surgical treatments for CH. Written by one of the better headache docs in the U.S.  (2002)
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Michigan Headache & Neurological Institute for another list of treatments and other articles:

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Print following for your doc. He will recognize the source. It's a widely used treatment protocol.

Headache. 2004 Nov;44(10):1013-8.   

Individualizing treatment with verapamil for cluster headache patients.

Blau JN, Engel HO.

    Background.-Verapamil is currently the best available prophylactic drug for patients experiencing cluster headaches (CHs). Published papers usually state 240 to 480 mg taken in three divided doses give good results, ranging from 50% to 80%; others mention higher doses-720, even 1200 mg per day. In clinical practice we found we needed to adapt dosage to individual's time of attacks, in particular giving higher doses before going to bed to suppress severe nocturnal episodes. A few only required 120 mg daily. We therefore evolved a scheme for steady and progressive drug increase until satisfactory control had been achieved. Objective.-To find the minimum dose of verapamil required to prevent episodic and chronic cluster headaches by supervising each individual and adjusting the dosage accordingly. Methods.-Consecutive patients with episodic or chronic CH (satisfying International Headache Society (IHS) criteria) were started on verapamil 40 mg in the morning, 80 mg early afternoon, and 80 mg before going to bed. Patients kept a diary of all attacks, recording times of onset, duration, and severity. They were advised, verbally and in writing, to add 40 mg verapamil on alternate days, depending on their attack timing: with nocturnal episodes the first increase was the evening dose and next the afternoon one; when attacks occurred on or soon after waking, we advised setting an alarm clock 2 hours before the usual waking time and then taking the medication. Patients were followed-up at weekly intervals until attacks were controlled. They were also reviewed when a cluster period had ended, and advised to continue on the same dose for a further 2 weeks before starting systematic reduction. Chronic cluster patients were reviewed as often as necessary. Results.-Seventy consecutive patients, 52 with episodic CH during cluster periods and 18 with chronic CH, were all treated with verapamil as above. Complete relief from headaches was obtained in 49 (94%) of 52 with episodic, and 10 (55%) of 18 with chronic CH; the majority needed 200 to 480 mg, but 9 in the episodic, and 3 in the chronic group, needed 520 to 960 mg for control. Ten, 2 in the episodic and 8 in the chronic group, with incomplete relief, required additional therapy-lithium, sumatriptan, or sodium valproate. One patient withdrew because verapamil made her too tired, another developed Stevens-Johnson syndrome, and the drug was withdrawn. Conclusions.-Providing the dosage for each individual is adequate, preventing CH with verapamil is highly effective, taken three (occasionally with higher doses, four) times a day. In the majority (94%) with episodic CH steady dose increase under supervision, totally suppressed attacks. However in the chronic variety only 55% were completely relieved, 69% men, but only 20% women. In both groups, for those with partial attack suppression, additional prophylactic drugs or acute treatment was necessary. (Headache 2004;44:1013-1018).

lorac wrote on Aug 5^th, 2009 at 4:14pm:

Highlight the text you want with your cursor, right click and <copy> with the mouse, then open a blank word processing document, right click and <paste> with the mouse. Then print. Easy.

[size=14][/size]Thanks BREW 

You need a proper mask, just what Brew said.
100% o2 with at least a 15 LPM regulator and a non-rebreather mask, preferably the o2ptimask. Get on it at the very first sign of a on-coming attack. Works wonders for me and so many here.

You should be looking into a prevent, I use Verapamil at 480mg daily, with the o2 is my cocktail.

 Barry

edited because I put my name in twice. LOL

Start with standard treatments and dosing and give it a chance before making changes. Too much experimentation blocks the ability to see what is working, or not.

Especially with the preventive meds, it takes several weeks, perhaps with dosing adjustments, to see how your body responds. Patience!!!

lorac wrote on Aug 7^th, 2009 at 9:12am:



I have a theory that he is a robot that auto replies to certain phrases and questions.... but if that were true, the programmer would probably have to be even more intelligent than he is.

Anyway, make sure you tell your docs that you are taking melatonin..... not that there are any problems, but always make sure your doc knows all the over the counter stuff you are taking.

Jerry....got it! no worries mate. The oxy is out.    I hate that feeling it gives me of being sooooo far off.

and fram....good advice. I will tell my doctor about the melatonin, Which is great stuff (by the way) .  

Had a pretty good weekend, My Attacks are being so random now I just don't understand it.   Usually can set my watch to a hit.  But now????   Last night I had one at 6pm...and 0 NONE nada at night.!
    NOT complaining mind you.  Sure was great to sleep all night for a change.                                  thanks all      lorac

OH yeah.....I tried those drinks (used Hit Man )  It has 1000 mg of taurine. and it does work great!   wow.

Melvyn wrote on Aug 10^th, 2009 at 8:54pm:


Good advise Melvyn.... I was wondering about that!
  Seems like it works really good for me, although I think it has knocked me out of any rhythm at all.  Don't know when I'll get hit...I am hoping It is on the way to none at all.   But I have also been doing the energy drinks.

Bob was right....one thing at a time!    Lorac