Clon. won't hurt you but most likely won't give sleep if you are in the midst of an attack.

Pred. will usually stop a cycle but if it isn't working now, will likely need to start the series over again at a higher dose.

You don't mention any other meds: Using an abortive?, a preventive?

Believe you will get better response with a good abortive.

Absence of insurance: If a barrier, ask your doc for a sample of this med. Highly effective abortive for a number of us; low cost, per dose, than the usual abortives.
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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.

PMID 11576207 PubMed

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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.
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Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or

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:

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


 

thanks Bob, I hope i can reach a dr today, 15 minutes a week ago at the er was 1100 bucks,

I have tried klonopin, xanax, valium, ativan, etc. at bedtime and it never effected my ch. I have anxiety issues and take benzoids frequently for that reason.  Currently I am on ativan.  You may want to try it because we all act differently to meds.  But be warned that it will show up on a drug test.

What about melatonin for sleep? It is more likely to help with clusters than benzos like clonipin.

I'll be honest that sleep aids were a big nono for me in cycle..... Id just get hit harder and be groggy.

That's just ME though.... so don't take it as for sure.

Could someone here help our friend here with cheap O2 ideas?

Samples of Zyprexa are a great idea.  They work so well for me.

PFDAN Ahead for you!