Can Verapamil actually terminate an episode or does it just ease the load?

Thank you for the info. 20 years now and I thought I was over it at my age. No such luck. Atleast the episodes are now 4 years apart but last around 6 months. This is the second time I have tried Verapamil and this time it has had a positive affect so will keep on with it and see how it goes.
No, I have not tried the Vit. D thing. Thanks again!

Thanks Bob. Yes, the intervals have grown longer. Started at 2, then 3 and for the last two epidoses, 4 years apart with episodes lasting roughly 3 months, then 4 months and the last two around 5 to 6 months.
Pete Batcheller very kindly sent me a lot of info on the D3 regime yesterday. Once I have looked through it all I may give that a try.
The Verapamil has definitely made a difference but it is early days in this episode so we shall see. Things tend to work for awhile then stop. The shadows are quicker to go with O2 and the hard hits where I resort to injections are less frequent but I am under no illusions. This could change in an instant. I feel so sorry for all who suffer from this but the worst by far are the young folk that are affected and it seems as though their numbers are increasing. Oh for a legitimate cure!

If the Veap isn't giving you sufficient relief then consider increasing the dose. Such adjustments are not unusual from cycle to cycle.

Given the long intervals between your cycles it makes sense to me to keep your treatment program simple.

For a few years before I aged out of having attacks, I discovered this approach: rapid acting on attacks ; some potential for totallyl ending attacks; inexpensive.
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Headache 2001 Sep;41(8):813-6 

Olanzapine as an Abortive Agent for Cluster Headache.


Rozen TD.
Department of Neurology, Jefferson Headache Center/Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, Pa.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate olanzapine as a cluster headache abortive agent in an open-label trial. BACKGROUND: Cluster headache is the most painful headache syndrome known. There are very few recognized abortive therapies for cluster headache and fewer for patients who have contraindications to vasoconstrictive drugs. METHODS: Olanzapine was given as an abortive agent to five patients with cluster headache in an open-label trial. THE INITIAL OLANZAPINE DOSE WAS 5 MG, AND THE DOSE WAS INCREASED TO 10 MG IF THERE WAS NO PAIN RELIEF. THE DOSAGE WAS DECREASED TO 2.5 MG IF THE 5-MG DOSE WAS EFFECTIVE BUT CAUSED ADVERSE EFFECTS. To be included in the study, each patient had to treat at least two attacks with either an effective dose or the highest tolerated dose. RESULTS: Five patients completed the investigation (four men, one woman; four with chronic cluster, one with episodic cluster). Olanzapine reduced cluster pain by at least 80% in four of five patients, and TWO PATIENTS BECAME HEADACHE-FREE AFTER TAKING THE DRUG. Olanzapine typically alleviated pain within 20 minutes after oral dosing and treatment response was consistent across multiple treated attacks. The only adverse event was sleepiness. CONCLUSIONS: Olanzapine appears to be a good abortive agent for cluster headache. IT ALLEVIATES PAIN QUICKLY AND HAS A CONSISTENT RESPONSE ACROSS MULTIPLE TREATED ATTACKS. IT APPEARS TO WORK IN BOTH EPISODIC AND CHRONIC CLUSTER HEADACHE.

PMID 11576207 PubMed

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Olanzapine has a brand name of "Zyprexa" and is a antipsychotic. Don't be put off by this primary usage. Several of the drugs used to treat CH are cross over applications, that is, drugs approved by the FDA for one purpose which are found to be effective with unrelated conditions--BJ.
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Touch of misunderstanding in your last msg.

Sumi. is an abortive, to kill an active attack--not used to prevent attacks. It's life is too short to serve as a long term preventive.

Verap. is used daily, builds up in you body to a steady state, and then prevents (one hopes!) attacks from developing. You keep adjusting the dose upward until it is effective in reducing/stopping attacks. So, you stay on Verap as long as it seems you're having attacks. No problem using it 100% of the time if you have short cycles of attacks. Whole goal  is to prevent or blunt attacks.

Look over the article, below, it will help make clear what the purpose is for the variety of meds we have.

It a useful piece to guide discussions with you doc.

verapamil keeps showing up on here, is it the standard go to for ch now? i had been well controlled on topomax for the last 3 years but it looks like i need to find something new. 3 years ago it seemed like it was a free for all of trying drugs and weighing side effects

thanks hoppy. i took 10000 sat and 50000 today (missed the loading part first read) but all i took was the d3, i will get the rest of the supplements monday. ive got more questions on it but want to read more in case its already answered and ask on a vitamin d post and not hi-jack this one.

Just some clarification re Bob Johnson's post: Bob, When I said that I use the sumi pills as a preventative, I meant I took them proactively as I sometimes get 7 to 8 hits a day so it helped control the pain when the hits came. It certainly did not stop them from visiting.

So far the Verapamil has really helped. Only one shadow in the last three days - no pills and no injections. Here's hoping that it keeps doing it's thing for the next 5 months!