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Gypsystormshadow

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Olmetec tablets (Olmesartan Medoxomil)
Nov 22^nd, 2014 at 7:06am

Greetings everyone - I've suffered episodic cluster headaches from the age of 10 or 12 years old and started diarising them in 2002. I sufferer every 3 to 6 years with my last headaches in 2008. I was diagnosed with high blood pressure in 2010 and put on Ometec 40mg tablets and have not had an episode since 2008. Four weeks ago I started getting 'shadows' and have been getting them intermittently since. Typical symptoms of dull headache on the left hand side of the head, pain behind the eye and nostril.....but this time it's extremely dull, but there.....probably a 1 to 3 on the pain scale. I am seriously hoping that this is not the start of another cycle, but it fits with with other diarised events in that they usually start in October or November and last for 3 months. But never, ever have I experienced the onset like I am right now. I have always had a severe attack out of the blue and that's when I know its ON LIKE DONKEY KONG! The reason I make this post is that I am starting to believe that the Olmetec tablets may be keeping them at bay and just about stopping them. I don't get headaches often and this headache that has been coming and going over the last 4 weeks is very reminiscent of clusters. The only study I can find online of Olmetec being used with in headache treatments is of course with migraine sufferers. Anyway, I would love to hear from anyone that has had any similar symptoms or used Olmetec for cluster headaches and I hope for those of you suffering that you find some peace :>8)~

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Don B

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Re: Olmetec tablets (Olmesartan Medoxomil)
Reply #1 - Nov 22^nd, 2014 at 7:19am

Hey Gypsy, welcome.
I too am episodic for over 20 years, usually getting hit only every 5 years for a couple of months. this round was typical like the others early on (SEVERE typical CH), then it subsided and became more of a nuisance that you describe.

I also deal with hypertention. Perhaps the Olmetec is minimizing the hits hard to know for sure. Hypertention by itself can cause head pain.
I have not taken Olmetec. there are some meds. that are effective as a CH preventative and aid in hypertention. A physician can aid in finding the balance that can bring the needed relief. I hope your condition does not escelate.
maybe others can offer more insight, just thought I would share that CH often presents differently in each of us and can morph into a different creature within each of us.

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Gypsystormshadow

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Re: Olmetec tablets (Olmesartan Medoxomil)
Reply #2 - Nov 22^nd, 2014 at 7:46am

G'day Don and cheers for the welcome back.....I've been using this site since around 2002. I've not had a severe CH since 2008, just the shadows for the past 4 weeks, so that was the reason for my post as I really do believe that the Olmetec is keeping the dreaded demon at bay. I tried Verapamil a few years ago which did work, but you're waiting for it to 'kick in', so to speak so I think being on this Olmetec for so many years may be breaking them....I seriously hope so. I have my blood pressure checked regularly and it's been normal or below for years, so I don't believe it's hypertension causing these shadows. That's why I think the CH's are trying it on, but can't due to the Olmetec. I'm 46 years old Don, so I to have been suffering this demon for 25 years plus....even tho, as you say they morph into different variations for each of us, it's different for me this time, for the first time....I hope you're well mate....

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Don B

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Re: Olmetec tablets (Olmesartan Medoxomil)
Reply #3 - Nov 22^nd, 2014 at 8:05am

Thanks I am doing well. It was a battle this go round for me too. different for the first time after many years. I was able to abort the hard hits with O2, and started on verap. This time unlike others, while the first couple months were typical, after that the shadows (occassional hits to the temple for a few seconds, pain in the teeth, facial area etc) were nagging. I stopped the verap. and started the anti-inflammatory regimen
I believe this to be the reason for my improved health.
I don't think it's all that unusual for having typical onsets of CH, to have them present differently the following year or many years later.
hopefully the "Demon" just knocks on your door and leaves again !!

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Batch

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Re: Olmetec tablets (Olmesartan Medoxomil)
Reply #4 - Nov 23^rd, 2014 at 1:28am

Take a look at the FDA's Adverse Reaction Database on this drug... then compare it with adverse reactions attributed to verapamil and vitamin D3 in each of the links below...

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Makes you wonder...

Take care,

V/R, Batch

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Don B

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Re: Olmetec tablets (Olmesartan Medoxomil)
Reply #5 - Nov 23^rd, 2014 at 6:08am

Batch, as you know there are many benefits from D3. For those like me who deal with hypertension, I found it interesting that it has also been suggested to lower blood pressure.
more studies needed to confirm direct correlation
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Batch

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Re: Olmetec tablets (Olmesartan Medoxomil)
Reply #6 - Nov 24^th, 2014 at 12:05am

Don,

It's difficult to find convincing medical evidence on the efficacy of any given pharmaceutical compared to a nutraceutical like vitamin D3 when used to combat a medical condition like hypertension.

Big pharma has a habit of twisting results of RCTs they fund to favor use of their patented pharmaceuticals... while down-playing adverse reactions...

At the same time there are researchers conducting RCTs on the same medical conditions using vitamin D3 as the method of intervention. Unfortunately, the vitamin D3 dose is usually ≤3333 IU/day and the duration of dose is frequently too short ≤ 5 weeks.

Moreover, hardly any of these vitamin D3 studies include taking the vitamin D3 cofactors, calcium, magnesium, zinc, boron, vitamin A (retinol) or vitamin K3.

In short, most of the RCTs involving vitamin D3 like this are either poorly designed, the researcher appears ignorant of vitamin D3 pharmacokinetics, or they've got a big pharma bias.

I'm a firm believer in evaluating the risk-reward ratio when it comes to deciding on how to treat medical conditions like hypertension... in short, I look at effectiveness vs side effects.

If you want contrast the adverse events reported on verapamil and hydrochlorothiazide, (listed in the post above and both frequently prescribed for hypertension) with vitamin D3, you get a very stark comparison of risks...

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That leaves efficacy as the next factor...

One of the more recent studies looking at safety and tolerability titled:

"A Safety and Tolerability Study of the Combination of Aliskiren/Valsartan in Patients With High Blood Pressure, Followed by Long-term Safety and Tolerability of Aliskiren, Valsartan and Hydrochlorothiazide." at the following link:

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This study found that a combination of Aliskiren, Valsartan and Hydrochlorothiazide was able to reduce BP to < 140/90 in 86.6% of 179 patients analyzed on this regimen for 18 months...

What's interesting (and very confusing) about these results is there were 486 participants out of 601 who completed the study...

This begs the question... what happened to the other 307 participants... did this regimen of BP lowering drugs lower their BP and if so... how much?

Clearly there's been some cherry picking. Moreover, they sliced and diced the adverse events over 36 different types of medical conditions so that any one type of adverse medical condition looked small against the total number of participants.

There was one finding in the study report that indicated:

Core and Extension Treatment - Aliskiren/Valsartan/HCTZ
Number of Participants Analyzed 310

Overall Percentage of Patients With Adverse Events 61.6%

I've managed to keep my BP at or below 138/62 since starting the anti-inflammatory regimen... It had been much higher prior to starting vitamin D3... That said, vitamin D3 isn't a silver bullet... I need to watch my diet and get as much exercise as possible...

I avoid sugar, particularly high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). I also try to eat plenty of greens, fish and nuts...

I know this is confusing... but hope it helps.

Take care,

V/R, Batch

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Don B

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Re: Olmetec tablets (Olmesartan Medoxomil)
Reply #7 - Nov 24^th, 2014 at 6:34am

Hey Batch,
Thanks for the detailed explaination. While I have usually been aware to consider any source and the motive for making claims, I can see that it is just as important to understand the lack of claims and the motivation behind them as well.
You have always offered tremendous insight and I find myself seeking other sources to get a more complete picture.

thanks again

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Batch

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Re: Olmetec tablets (Olmesartan Medoxomil)
Reply #8 - Nov 24^th, 2014 at 11:38am

Don,

I've found the straightest shooters in the medical profession generally come from the ranks of Integrative physicians... They treat the whole body first with diet and supplemental nutrients to give the body what it needs to heal itself. When that is not sufficient to control a particular medical condition, and only then, do they turn to pharmaceutical measures with the strongest medical evidence of efficacy and safety.

Take care,

V/R, Batch

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You love lots of things if you live around them. But there isn't any woman and there isn't any horse, that’s as lovely as a great airplane. If it's a beautiful fighter, your heart will be ever there

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Don B

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Re: Olmetec tablets (Olmesartan Medoxomil)
Reply #9 - Nov 24^th, 2014 at 2:08pm

Hey Batch.

here is the update I promised to provide.
Please keep in mind prior to beginning the anti-inflammatory regimen, the most recent labs I had were from April 2014.
My 25(OH)D was 25, on the low side. but it was likely even lower as this cycle didn't begin until August.
I battled hard in the beginning and was fortunate that oxygen at 15 LPM with a non rebreather mask aborted nearly all attacks very quickly. although I had suffered for the first two weeks using oxygen incorrectly and finding this site to fix that issue. Wish I had found it many years ago !!

on to the lab results after one month anti-inflammatory :

25(OH)D = 78 ng/ml
PTH Intact = 20 pg/ml
Calcium = 9.9 mg/dl

calcium ionized = 1.28 mmol/L

Excellent results and in line with what we expected to see. the CH hits are gone completely, occassional shadows lurking. Thank you so much for working with me.
I haven't had the chance to review with my PCP yet but a few abnormal notes from the lab work:

basic metabolic panel
carbon dioxide (low) 20 mmol/L
AGAP 20 (High)
Hepatic Function Panel
Albumin 5.2 H g/dl

thanks to all in CH land for the support and guidance !!

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« Last Edit: Nov 24^th, 2014 at 2:24pm by Don B »

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