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New CH.com Forum › Cluster Headache Help and Support › Medications, Treatments, Therapies › Adding Verapamil - already have effective BP tx

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Adding Verapamil - already have effective BP tx (Read 1904 times)

Ed Ardzinski

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Adding Verapamil - already have effective BP tx
Jan 21^st, 2014 at 7:01pm

I'm in my late 40's, and have dealt with high BP since my mid 20's. After some half hearted attempts to find an effective treatment for the BP I finally decided about 14 years ago to give it a good faith effort, and currently I am on Micardis HCT (Telmisartan, Hydrochlorothiazide) and Norvasc (Amlodipine Besylate). This combination has worked great with no side effects.

I am starting a new CH cycle, after almost three years of remission, and holy crap...last night was the first time I felt like suicide was a treatment options. This scares me - I never have had those thoughts. So I have to find a prophylactic treatment. I tried topamax years ago, and the mental side effects were too much for me.

In the last 5 years or so I have had two younger relatives develop CH's, and both have had great success using verapamil.

So my question is simple - is this an option for me, or will it interfere with my BP treatment? It took a lot of heart palpatations, headaches, and gastric distress to arrive at this combination of drugs, and controlling my BP is obviously very important. I don't want to mess up a good thing.

I also don't want to go through any more CH attacks that make me want to do harm to myself.

Thanks!

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Hoppy CH.com Alumnus Offline LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE Posts: 1890 Perth WA Gender:	Re: Adding Verapamil - already have effective BP tx Reply #1 - Jan 21^st, 2014 at 7:56pm Hi Ed, and welcome. I think it would be best, to first talk this over with your doctor/neuro. Hoppy.
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Ed Ardzinski CH.com Newbie Offline I Love CH.com! Posts: 9 Palm Harbor, FL, USA Gender:	Re: Adding Verapamil - already have effective BP tx Reply #2 - Jan 21^st, 2014 at 8:26pm That's the idea - I have an appointment Thursday.
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Hoppy CH.com Alumnus Offline LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE Posts: 1890 Perth WA Gender:	Re: Adding Verapamil - already have effective BP tx Reply #3 - Jan 21^st, 2014 at 8:49pm Hi Ed, Thats good to hear. Whilst your there ask about a Prednisione taper dose. This will help abort the beast until the Verapamil kicks in. Hoppy.
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Ed Ardzinski CH.com Newbie Offline I Love CH.com! Posts: 9 Palm Harbor, FL, USA Gender:	Re: Adding Verapamil - already have effective BP tx Reply #4 - Jan 23^rd, 2014 at 10:22am Just saw my doc. We're switching the norvasc for 180 mg of verapamil to start, and I'll start a medrol taper tonight. I have not had an acute attack for a couple days, but pretty strong shadows right now. I've got a relpax ready for today if the shadow develops into anything worse.
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Mike NZ

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Re: Adding Verapamil - already have effective BP tx
Reply #5 - Jan 23^rd, 2014 at 10:44pm

Ed Ardzinski wrote on Jan 23^rd, 2014 at 10:22am:

Just saw my doc. We're switching the norvasc for 180 mg of verapamil to start

A verapamil dose of 180mg a day is a very low dose with 360-480mg being what many need and some go to around 1000mg a day. But do work with your doctor on any dose changes and be aware that it takes about 10 days for a dose change to take effect, so don't change dose levels quicker than this.

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Ed Ardzinski

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Re: Adding Verapamil - already have effective BP tx
Reply #6 - Jan 26^th, 2014 at 9:28am

Thanks for the info, Mike!

I forgot my steroid taper last night, and was woken up by a CH at about 2:30 AM...but it was a strangely muted attack. I took my 4 methyl-prednisone tabs then. More discomfort than pain, but certainly centered on the right temple where the CH's usually are for me. Not sure what to make of that odd attenuated headache. It did not get any worse, and feel back to sleep quickly.

I still got drowsy from the vera last night, but not as bad as the night before. This morning I feel good again. I'm guessing the main effect I'm getting right now is from the steroids.

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wimsey1

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Re: Adding Verapamil - already have effective BP tx
Reply #7 - Jan 27^th, 2014 at 10:45am

Hi Ed. I'm a little confused. You say you took 4 methylprednisone pills when an attack woke you up? What is it you have? The Medrol Dosepaks with which am familiar start out quite high (like 6 pills spread out over the first day) and begin the taper the next. It also describes when to take the dose (before breakfast, then before lunch, etc). And perhaps I misunderstood you, and if so I apologize ahead of time, but it sounds like you took the prednisone as an abortive after the attack woke you up. In general prednisone doesn't work that way. It does get into your system pretty quickly, but it's most effective role is as an intermediate preventative until your real preventative can build up. blessings. lance

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