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I don't have anything to say about Nurtec, except to mention that just yesterday a person posted that s/he was recently prescribed Nurtec: https://clusterbusters.org/forums/topic/7465-newbie-to-group-advice/?tab=comments#comment-71856 I looked at goodrx.com, where there are often free coupons for lower prices for things you can get at standard pharmacies, but the lowest price there was $886.62. I did want to mention that a possible antidote to being knocked on one's ass by Imitrex (and to most of the other side effects) is to use less of it each time. Most people only need about 2mg to stop an attack, and the injector holds 6mg. Many people disassemble the autoinjector so they can give themselves smaller doses. https://clusterbusters.org/forums/topic/2446-extending-imitrex/ Some folks can get it in vials with syringes so they can measure out their own doses. Some do fine with a triptan nasal spray, which has fewer side effects. Do you have oxygen? Are you doing the D3 regimen?

Welcome to the community @ERICA! Looks like you've had some good suggestions but I'll reiterate Ch father's advice on Oxygen and the vitamin D3 regimen! Dallas Denny

I wish I could respond to the other things you ask about, but I can say about these three that to the best of my knowledge, Batch (xxx) says you can start the regimen before being tested, and you should start "with a few doses at 10,000IU per day" (his words), because of the small risk of a negative reaction to D3. I'm not sure where your point 2 comes from. If you're having CH attacks, then your D level is too low. Batch has written: "CH'ers who have used this regimen and experienced a significant reduction in the frequency and severity of their CH or gone pain free and then had this test have had an average 25(OH)D serum concentration of 81.4 ng/mL. (203.5 nmol/L), min = 34.0 ng/mL, max = 149.0 ng/mL." The specifics of these ranges might have changed since he wrote that, but you can see that many people needed to get considerably higher than 45 ng/ml to get relief. If you are using the full 6mg injector each time, you shouldn't (or at least needn't) be: https://clusterbusters.org/forums/topic/2446-extending-imitrex/

Worked for me too

Welcome! Cluster headaches seem to be more rare in young women, so I'm not glad that you're here exactly but I'm glad we aren't alone! I had my first at 20 and am 36 now. I have not tried as many of the medications you mention - my last doctor prescribed me sumatriptan in tablet form which didn't do anything for me except propel me into a medication overuse cluster episode. I will say that 5 hr energy is a great abortive for me, and that I have had a lot of success with a procedure called Sphenocath, which is an SPG nerve block where they put a lidocaine solution on a nerve cluster in your head. I had it done in 2019 and didn't have another episode until this year. I did it again this week and am down to just shadow pain, I think I'll probably go back for another one in a couple weeks to see. The Sphenocath is a lot more commonly used for regular migraines, the doctor who did mine said it's really 50/50 with cluster patients, but as we know here just about anything is worth a shot. Good luck!

...good morning Erica...welcome! ...yeah, thanks Ma for sure...diagnosing CH in an adult is a crap shoot..it would seem to be even moreso for a child.... ....you don't mention OXYGEN.....considered the best abortive and NO side effects, especially heart wise. any experience there? wouldn't need the other meds.... ...careful with the Excedrin....some folks find it helps with shadows (naproxen does for me) but is useless for a regular hit, nasty potential stomach side effects and additive to any blood thinners you may be on. methinks the caffeine is the key ..... best jonathan edited to add...i see i posted same time as CHf...unintentionally redundant....but obviously i agree

Welcome, Erica. As it is said here, glad you are here but sorry you have to be. First, foremost, and above all else -- OXYGEN is what you want for stopping attacks. It's the life-changer. You will have a lot less need for other abortive meds (such as triptans or Nurtec) when you use O2. Then there's the vitamin D3 regimen -- the best, safest preventive. An energy shot (such as 5-Hour Energy) or drink (such as Red Bull) at the first sign of an attack can reduce its severity or even sometimes abort the attack. There are reasons why the shots are preferred (more caffeine, easier to get down fast). Don't know how this fits with your heart situation. You can read about all of those things, and some more, in this post: https://clusterbusters.org/forums/topic/6213-basic-non-busting-information/ You might want to consider busting. Click on the "New Users..." wording in the blue banner at the top of each page for busting basics. The same information you would get when you click there is at the very end of the post I linked you to.

My doctor also suggested I try Nurtec at my annual last week. I picked up the script today and I've been doing as much research as I can get my hands on. Like @kat_92, I'm suspicious when it targets migraines but doesn't specifically mention clusters. I reviewed their web site and couldn't find a single mention of cluster treatment. Also, literature says it can take anywhere from 1-2 hours for pain relief, so if I'm using it as an abortive, I don't know that that helps much. That said, it says it prevents them for 48 hours after. That could be good. They seem real proud that it reduces the biggest problems associated with migraines: Noise Sensitivity, Light Sensitivity and Nausea. Great, but like most of you, I don't have those symptoms with my cluster attacks. @CHfatherI found one line of discussion that indicated the maker is filing with the FDA to have it listed as a preventive, and that some headache specialists are already prescribing it that way even though the current FDA guidance specifically says its not. My pharmacist freaked out when I filled the script - I also refilled my sumatriptan at the same time and the pharmacist was emphatic that I not take them both. I honestly had not intended to, but if Nurtec doesn't work, I want my good friend standing by and ready. But I did get curious, so I looked up the drug interactions on drug.com and it said none exist. OK, nice to know, but I think if the situation arises, I'll avoid taking the chance. I do have oxygen tanks, but find they are only useful for mild attacks. In any case, that will be my backup if Nurtec doesn't work tonight. I'll wait a couple days before going back to the triptans. The only thing I'm puzzled over - if Nurtec works for 48 hours, why would I wait for my 1:30 AM attack? Why not take it now? Decision made - I'm going to start a dose tonight before bed - I'll post my experience in a couple days...