Posted by Ueli (195.162.170.213) on December 08, 2000 at 10:57:13:
In Reply to: Let's get down to facts- posted by Donna on December 08, 2000 at 08:49:42:
... there is hardly any research done on special meds for Clusters.
And as there are no meds specifically for CH, we have to use meds developed for other diseases that have been found (by chance or by trial and error) to be useful against CH.
Some meds used for bipolar and manic-depressive disorders, epilepsy and other diseases caused by a messed-up Serotonin balance can be useful against CH.
Calcium channel blockers (Verapamil), developed for heart diseases are a good preventative for many clusterheads.
True, some Triptanes developed to combat migraines are excellent abortives for CH too.
Both CH and M are in the head and both can be aborted with Imitrex, but that is no reason to put both beasts into the same basket. Nobody bunches Clusterheads together with heart patients or epileptics, on reasoning that some meds help both groups.
So, people who emphasize the few similarities of CH and M instead of stressing all the time and everywhere that they are two very distinct diseases
A few examples:
We hear all the time from Clusterheads who's insurance only allows for half a dozen Imitrex shots or pills a month, based on the assumption that this is more than enough for the average migraineur.
As someone wrote today, 12 days sick leave is assumed enough for a cluster period of 2 or 3 month.
Prescribing beta blockers (great to prevent M, almost useless for CH) instead of Verapamil.
A good friend of mine, not only a chronic Clusterhead with half a dozen attacks per day but with 10 or 20 CPH attacks on top, was granted a lower degree of disability than a migraineur - since his attacks are shorter than an average migraine attack.
Help spreading the knowledge about CH by joining OUCH!
Ueli