Posted by Ueli (212.28.158.176) on March 12, 2000 at 11:03:20:
In Reply to: just a few questions posted by Carroll on March 12, 2000 at 08:38:48:
Verapamil is used as a prevantative, it is supposed to (and does for many) reduce the number and the intensity of the attacks. You take it during the whole cluster period and, as advisable for any med, you taper down at the end of the period.
The trick is to take a high enough dose, usually more that the docs prescribe for its primary use, heart disease. From what I gathered from this board, with 240 mg/day only a few get the desired result; 360 mg/day or more are needed for many.
I myself ( 1.83 m, 85 kg) take 560 mg/day and my attacks have never gone above Kip #3 in the last 13 month and are easily aborted with O2.
Side effects are usually minimal, some constipation easily taken care of.
BTW, half of a 2.5 mg tablet of Naratriptan (Amerge, Naramig) usually prevents the break trough of the nightly attacks foe me.
Good luck for your visit with the doc,
Ueli