Posted by Marvin Cruzan (12.14.226.93) on March 02, 2001 at 12:48:05:
I had a mild heart attack in early January, 2001. And maybe it was a blessing in disguise because the doctor put me on a beta blocker, Toprol. In late December, I had entered a cluster. By late January, before I left the hospital, it was at its max. The cardiologist did not prescribe Toprol until I left the hospital. After February 2nd, my discharge from the hospital, I started on 100mg. per day. Since then, I've purchased a pill splitter and take 50mg in the early morning when I get up and another 50mg in the early afternoon.
I've now gone over a month without a cluster! Typically, my clusters last 4 to 6 weeks with a respite of about 2 to 3 weeks. I've had this pattern since my mid to late twenties. I'm now 62.
To me, the heart attack was a blessing in disguise. This is the longest that I've gone without a cluster episode.
I'd like to see some clinical tests on Toprol and other beta blockers as applied to cluster headaches.