Posted by Jack (24.189.157.40) on January 08, 2002 at 07:27:07:
In Reply to: Verapamil posted by Laura on January 08, 2002 at 00:31:24:
:-)
It became widely used as a preventative for clusters around the mid to late 1980s.
I have been using it for my episodes since 1989.
It is simply the BEST preventative. It actually works for many people and it is the most benign in terms of side effects. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. It should be the VERY FIRST drug a nuero offers anyone.
Most common side efects are constipation and a little sluggishness.
By the way verapamil is a calcium channel blocker which is widely used for high blood pressure.
In an otherwise healthy individual THERE ARE NO SERIOUS LONG TERM SIDE EFFECTS. You can't say that about any of the other cluster meds.
Your husband should use it ONLY when he is in a cycle. There is some evidence that for those who use it all the time ( even when not in a cycle )that it can lose its effectiveness.
Something you said resonated with me - You said your husband's worst attacks came at the end of a cycle - Me too and I have been episodic for 31 years.
Good Luck