Hi and welcome

When CH first starts it can take weeks, months or sometimes years to settle into the classical pattern of CH symptoms, so just because the symptoms aren't following the text book pattern does not mean much other than it can make it a bit harder to diagnose as the process involves matching the symptoms plus ruling out any other possible cause of them. This is why we always strongly suggest that people work with a headache specialist.

The 50mg sumatriptan can be effective at killing off migraines although even then the 100mg tablets are more common. With CH the tablet form is generally ineffective as it takes too long for it to take effect, so we normally use either the injection or nasal spray versions which can work in a few minutes. Sumatriptan is the generic form with imitrex and imigran being trade names of the same drug.

For some people there is a hereditary link for CH (Multimedia File Viewing and Clickable Links are available for Registered Members only!!  You need to or ) with the gene present in about 3-4% of males and 7-10% of females who have CH. But most people with CH do not have a relative with it.

For some unknown reason people with CH are also likely to smoke, but non-smokers can get CH too. Apart from the normal benefits of giving up smoking, the impact for people with CH is mainly around increasing the options of using some drugs to help control CH.

Trying to figure out CH triggers isn't too easy, with the most common one being alcohol, with hunger, strong chemical smells, being tired, stress (high / low / transitions between high and low) and high / low temperature ones being also frequently mentioned. But plenty of CHs just happen with no obvious trigger, so don't go crazy trying to figure everything out or try to avoid every possible thing that might possibly be a trigger.

Before you go to the appointment do write a list of questions that you want to ask, then tick them off as you go through them and take notes. Otherwise it is so easy to get out of the appointment and realize you forgot to ask something.

Keep us updated with how he gets on.

hi you have got good advice from the above members.a doctor once gave me 3 lots of amoxilin one after another thinking it was sinus infection.most doctors havent a clue.