Posted by Ron G. (205.188.195.29) on June 19, 1999 at 18:34:35:
In Reply to: went to the doc posted by Barb on June 19, 1999 at 05:33:57:
Imipramine was the first antidepressant drug. It was introdued, I beleive in the early 1960's. The class it belongs to are the tricyclic antidepressants. Tricyclics are commonly used for migraine headaches and as "add ons" for chronic nerve pain treatments. Its success in CH has not been exceptional. It seems to do better with migraines. This drug is used to prevent the headache from happening. Once a CH occurs it is too late to stop it with this drug. The side effects include dry mouth, trouble voiding urine, blurred vision.
Ergotamine is also an older drug. It is primarily a blood vessel shrinker. Ergotamine is usually used to stop a headache. It is not very good for preventing, but has been used this way. Be careful with ergotamine because over use will bring rebound headaches or worse, cut off circulation to parts of your body. The under-tongue-form is supposed to have a faster onset.
Depakote is a drug used for epilepsy. It has good results in migraine but again not as successful with cluster headaches. I beleive it is worth trying as a preventative. The doses can go up very high. Side effects are bothersome. Weight gain, hair loss, lethergy, tremor and nausea.
You may want to check into getting a canister of oxygen. If you HA's are genuinely cluster you should have pretty good luck in stopping headaches by breathing pure oxygen at the rate of 7 liters per min. It has a lot fewer side effects.
For other treatment ideas check out the survey results on this site. There are many to try.
Relief is out there but it can be elusive.
Ron G.