Hey Rick,
Good questions and I'm glad you've started the anti-inflammatory regimen... I think you'll find that was a wise decision...
It looks like I should have explained the calcium dosing strategy a little better...
For starters... You're ok in splitting the calcium supplement dose to twice a day... The calcium to magnesium ratio is also excellent in the supplements you're taking... There's no consensus on the best calcium to magnesium ratio but it appears that anywhere in a range of 4:1 down to 1:1 is acceptable.
According to the experts at the Vitamin D Council, magnesium is one of the most important "Cofactors" that enable vitamin D3 to be metabolized into 25(OH)D. Vitamin K2, Zinc and Boron are the other cofactors.
See: Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!! You need to
or
for an explanation of why we need to take these cofactors when taking vitamin D3.
This link also has another link to ZRT Labs where you can order a 25(OH)D home blood spot test kit for $65 and you don't need an Rx or a trip to the doctor's office... I have two of the kits sitting next to my computer...
Regarding the dosing limits on calcium... The body can only process 500-600 mg of calcium effectively in a single dose... any more than that and the excess calcium goes down the drain without doing any good... No bad side effects... you're just not getting the best bang for the buck...
As far as the difference between calcium carbonate and calcium citrate... Both can be effective, but you get better bioavailability (better absorption so more reaches your system) with calcium citrate or calcium gluconate than with calcium carbonate. Calcium carbonate has a stronger chemical bond that requires a low pH (more acid) to break down or disassociate into it's ionic components and into the bloodstream... Accordingly, calcium carbonate should be taken with food so the hydrochloric acid in the stomach can break it down...
You're doing great at this point and the only thing I'd suggest is to ask your PCP or neurologist for the lab test for 25-Hydroxyvitamin D, a.k.a. 25(OH)D so you'll know where you are in the process of elevating the level of this vitamin D3 metabolite up and into the therapeutic range for cluster headache.
Data I've collected from CH'ers who have gone pain free of their CH while taking this regimen and posted the results of their 25(OH)D lab tests, suggest the target therapeutic range of 25(OH)D concentrations needed to remain PF of cluster headache is 60-90 ng/mL, (150-225 nmol/L).
Assuming normal kidney and liver functions, the average adult will metabolize vitamin D3 into 25(OH)D and increase its serum concentration by 0.444 ng/mL/day at a dose of 10,000 IU/day vitamin D3...
So let's use the following example to show why some CH'ers respond to this regimen in a few days while others take up to three weeks to a month... or much longer before going PF.
Let's say your 25(OH)D tested at 20 ng/mL before starting the anti-inflammatory regimen and you need to have it at 60 ng/ml in order to be PF from your CH. That means you need to increase the concentration of your 25(OH)D by 40 ng/mL.
If you do the math... Divide 40 ng/mL by 0.444 ng/mL/day and you get 90 days... That means it could take 90 days at a dose of 10,000 IU/day vitamin D3 to experience a favorable reaction to the anti-inflammatory regimen... because it would take that long to build 25(OH)D reserves to a therapeutic concentration...
Although responses to the On-Line Anti-Inflammatory Regimen Survey are coming in slower than I'd hoped, the time to respond to this regimen is holding consistent.
So far the Survey data suggests that most CH'ers will respond to the anti-inflammatory regimen with a significant favorable change in CH patters within 10 days after starting this regimen and nearly all who do have a favorable response, are pain free by the end of the third week... Two have taken as long as a month.
Bottom line... take the test for 25(OH)D even if you've already started the anti-inflammatory regimen... and take it again after you've gone pain free.
Take care and please keep us posted.
V/R, Batch