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anthony g CH.com Old Timer Offline I Love CH.com! Posts: 318 manhattan nyc Gender:	verapamil Dec 6^th, 2011 at 5:47am Hey all Does anyone else feel like verapamil causes them to have headaches? I feel like the verap is causing me more of a consistent type headache than a cluster but I am really feeling like verap is giving me chronic head pain? Thanks Anthony
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Mike NZ

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Re: verapamil
Reply #1 - Dec 6^th, 2011 at 6:27am

Ironically headaches are a known possible side effect of verapamil.

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Verapamil may cause side effects. Tell your doctor if any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away:

constipation

heartburn

dizziness or lightheadedness

headache

Maybe time to discuss this with your doctor?

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wimsey1

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Re: verapamil
Reply #2 - Dec 6^th, 2011 at 8:00am

Agree with Mike. Any med can have a side effect that is bothersome, or even worse than what it is meant to address. What kind of headache are you getting? Is the verapamil controlling the CHs? Is it a good tradeoff? I should think these are questions your doc will ask or which you should answer before going to the doc. I know the verapamil causes constipation for me. I'll take that annoyance any day over the regularity of 4-6 hits/day. The only intervention I have found without some tradeoffs is O2. I thank God always for that. Blessings. lance

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anthony g

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Re: verapamil
Reply #3 - Dec 6^th, 2011 at 8:20am

wimsey1 wrote on Dec 6^th, 2011 at 8:00am:

Agree with Mike. Any med can have a side effect that is bothersome, or even worse than what it is meant to address. What kind of headache are you getting? Is the verapamil controlling the CHs? Is it a good tradeoff? I should think these are questions your doc will ask or which you should answer before going to the doc. I know the verapamil causes constipation for me. I'll take that annoyance any day over the regularity of 4-6 hits/day. The only intervention I have found without some tradeoffs is O2. I thank God always for that. Blessings. lance

thanks wimsley
I have kinda a continual headache with more intense on cluster side but not a real cluster attack. I have really not had a "headbanger" in over a year or so. But i have had continual pressure (like a stuck cluster shadow) ever since ,some days more than others. I have a great specialist here in nyc saw him yesterday and he is still leaning toward clusters even though i dont have major attacks. Im so confused. I also started lithium along with the verap was started on 300 mg had bllod work done after 2 weeks and was fine and he raised lithium to 450 yesterday so i guess we will see. Just really confused cause i dont have the headbangers Undecided

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Bob Johnson

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Re: verapamil
Reply #4 - Dec 6^th, 2011 at 9:16am

Ref. msg #3: If I understand, your "new" headache is on one side, the same as the Cluster site. Correct?

If yes, that changes the picture, I suspect, from a new headache to a "softer" Cluster pain, likely becasue the new meds are taking effect--but not yet 100% effective.

If the "new" pain was a side effect from the Verap, I would expect a generalized pain--whole head variety, as with any conventional headache.

But, clearly an issue to bring to your doc. You are in a period of change as treatment is getting established. Try to be patient and not fret about every new sign/symptom. It will take several weeks to work out a stable/effective treatment plan.

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Bob Johnson

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anthony g

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Re: verapamil
Reply #5 - Dec 6^th, 2011 at 9:40am

Bob Johnson wrote on Dec 6^th, 2011 at 9:16am:

Ref. msg #3: If I understand, your "new" headache is on one side, the same as the Cluster site. Correct?

If yes, that changes the picture, I suspect, from a new headache to a "softer" Cluster pain, likely becasue the new meds are taking effect--but not yet 100% effective.

If the "new" pain was a side effect from the Verap, I would expect a generalized pain--whole head variety, as with any conventional headache.

But, clearly an issue to bring to your doc. You are in a period of change as treatment is getting established. Try to be patient and not fret about every new sign/symptom. It will take several weeks to work out a stable/effective treatment plan.

Yes Bob the headache is on the cluster side but also the whole head and neck but not a cluster attack almost continual. I emailed my specialist since i did just start the higher dose of lithium to 450 last night been on the verap for awhile now but I almost feel like its the verap keeping the continual headaches? I asked my doc if i could stop the veraap and see and he said yes if it is the verap causing the continual headache we will know in a week
input?
thanks so much
anthony

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wimsey1 CH.com Alumnus Offline I Love CH.com! Posts: 2457 MA Gender:	Re: verapamil Reply #6 - Dec 8^th, 2011 at 8:36am That sounds about right. The cure for a rebound is to stop taking the med causing it. If the pain persists or grows, it is probably not the verapamil. You will know. Blessings. lance
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LasVegas CH.com Sponsor Offline Episodic CH since 11 yrs old, now 50. Posts: 2020 north of the 60th parallel Gender:	Re: verapamil Reply #7 - Dec 9^th, 2011 at 10:12am I can relate to what you wrote Anthony. Ever since my Verapamil increased to 400mg I have had the addition of a 4 hour long daytime shadow, with some noticeable decrease in night time attacks. That lingering shadow is very annoying and also have noticed extreme sensitivity in the CH side ear.
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anthony g

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Re: verapamil
Reply #8 - Dec 9^th, 2011 at 7:36pm

LasVegas wrote on Dec 9^th, 2011 at 10:12am:

I can relate to what you wrote Anthony.

Ever since my Verapamil increased to 400mg I have had the addition of a 4 hour long daytime shadow, with some noticeable decrease in night time attacks.

Totally. Ever since i stopped the verap the constant shadow has been much less havent really had much in the way of head pain either but we will see. The ringing in my ear is still there. will keep you posted Vegas!
Anthony
That lingering shadow is very annoying and also have noticed extreme sensitivity in the CH side ear.

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