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I used imitrex for 12 years plus. Then I found this place and alternatives. I hope and pray that I'll never use it again. It works short term but made it worse for me long term. There is alot of knowledge here. As well as alot of support. I found this place a year ago and its been the best thing I've found for me in 18 yrs of fighting the beast. Keep reading and asking I've found relief and I feel like I owe it to "us" to help. Because it sucks thinking there is no hope. But there is and you have found it.

The bad news is that for most people things don't get better on their own with age/time. For some they do -- maybe you'll be one of them. The good news is, holy cow, gosh, there are plenty of things that will help you. Most people would put oxygen #1 on that list, as an abortive for your attacks. Pharma meds such as verapamil as a preventive and injectable sumatriptan as a backup abortive are often effective. You really need to become familiar with oxygen and meds. In the ClusterBuster Files section of this board, you could look over "Bob's Big Pocket Guide . . ." Find the places that seem most relevant to you and start there. For strictly pharma stuff, google [Goadsby treatment of cluster headache] for a clear discussion. A list of recommended doctors appears as the first post at the top of this board ("General Board"). A good doctor makes a difference. Many docs won't/don't even prescribe oxygen, which is pretty close to malpractice given that all medical references list it as the #1 abortive. (You can set up your own oxygen system using welding oxygen, as about 20% of people with CH do, but an O2 prescription is a nice thing to have.) The vitamin D3 regimen that is described in that same ClusterBuster Files section has helped hundreds of people. Give it some very serious consideration. Busting is highly effective. Read the numbered files in the CB Files section to learn more about that. Try quickly drinking an energy shot, such as 5-Hour Energy, at the first sign of an attack. It can reduce the severity of attacks and sometimes even abort them. Strong cup of coffee might work, but the energy shots are generally better. Melatonin at night, starting at 9 mg and working up, helps many . . . CH still sucks, but you could be feeling a whole lot better.