Posted by Jack Boyd on June 02, 1999 at 12:52:33:
In Reply to: Re: Clusters and Viagra....with advance apologies posted by DocGreg on June 02, 1999 at 12:14:41:
Viagra relaxes smooth muscles and helps to prevent constriction. Calcium channel blockers work in a similar same way for treating hypertension and as a preventative for clusters.
I believe the pain in clusters ( just as in migraine ) comes from the dilation of blood vessels after they have constricted.
So as contradictory as it may seem - both constriction and dilation agents can have a beneficial affect on clusters ( depending on how they are used ). I believe the key is regulation of the blood vessel - if they constrict they will need to dilate at some point - hence, if we prevent the constriction ( calcium channel blockers ) we can prevent the dilation ( pain ). If they are about to dilate, introducing constriction ( many of the abortives ) will be of help.
So like anything else related to clusters it just ain't that simple.
Doc Greg - might it be fair to say and would you agree that anti-constrictors or dilaters tend to be preventatives and constrictors tend to be abortives?