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Is it that your doc doesn't know you have CH, or that he knows that you have CH but keeps endorsing/prescribing migraine meds? Has he prescribed oxygen? Has he prescribed Imitrex, or verapamil, or one of the new CGRP meds (such as Emgality, Aimovig, or others), all of which are also treatments for CH? What are you doing beyond pharma meds? D3 regimen? Busting? Most CH patients, as has been suggested, have very little need for doctors. If you can get an oxygen prescription, that's good, but you don't need it to have an O2 system. A prescription for an injected or nasal triptan can be very good to have, but those are also migraine meds. And I think everyone probably ought to try one of the CGRP meds (also essentially migraine meds, with boosted dosage for CH), but others disagree with me about that. Beyond those things (and maybe a course of prednisone to interrupt a cycle), the OTC D3 regimen is much better (more effective; fewer side effects) for most people than verapamil as a preventive; the D3-related anti-inflammatory practices (including the "Full Monty") can often stop a cycle; the best abortive, oxygen, can be set up without a prescription, as I've said; and busting is great if you are open to it.

....need.new.doc... ...preferably a HA specialist, at worst a open minded pcp who will respond positively to your needs (knowledge of which you may have to supply). nearly every clusterhead knows far more re CH than most docs, including neuros, will ever know. most doctors now have neither the time nor desire to become a student of CH for you, its a rare condition. you are the advocate....

... CH used to be known as "histamine headache" and some of the standard treatments were heavy duty antihistamines... they don't work as an effective prevent so the usage has fallen by the wayside of medical thought re treatment of CH. not to say they are not effective for allergies and illnesses that cause inflammation and chemical cascades..... which may trigger/enable/worsen CH....either directly or perhaps by burning down your D3 levels. ....Benadryl has always been a go to for me.....it just works better than the new line versions...and i could always work around the sleepiness it can cause (and which some folks treasure)... ....Batch has a new version of antihistamines to add to the D3 regimen if need be....hope someone will give you a link as it's too late for poking around for me...................................

Well said.

I figure if your doc is not a headache specialist, he is unlikely to have much (or any) clinical experience with CH, hence his references to what he knows - migraine. It sounds like he is not super into researching CH so far, so I'm gonna second the suggestion of @BoscoPiko to seek out a headache specialist if at all possible. And yep, triptans and stuff are prescribed for both migraines and CH, but everyone and their clusterhead mom will tell you that one of the best things you can have prescribed by a doctor is the more CH-centric oxygen for aborting attacks. Then a lot of people 'round here (I'm one of them) and their clusterhead dad will tell you the D3 regimen and busting can be very effective, non toxic ways to prevent CH whilst bypassing the pharmaceutical RX routine and doctors in general.

I have found that having Clusters teaches us why they say Doctors are “practicing medicine”! Over the last 45+ years I have heard try this and tell me what it does far to many times.

...hi SF... ...i see no reason not to try the ap-loratodine....have not seen reported as a trigger. i've tried for multiple allergies with minimal effect on same (sigh) but no effect on CH in or out of cycle.... ....the US version of Benadryl is a favorite for effectiveness for me and many due to excellent anti-histamine effects.....and sleep aid for clusterheads in cycle. i believe nytol original and nytol one-a-night are available SA (??)....these are marketed as sleep aids and contain the same diphenhydramine as US Benadryl (25/50 mg respectively). Perhaps other sleep aid brands with same ingredient. am sure you already know the European brand of Benadryl does not have diphenhydramine... j

You know I was really hoping for this rt here.. I am terrible at articulation but you @CHfather not so much. Good questions and response. I'll get better as long as I continue to educate. Thanks for piping in to this new suffering individual..

Uff.. That's a tough one if your doc is under the impression that you only have migraine? Has he diagnosed you with CH? I suppose you could go into a very detailed version of your attacks in an effort to get him/her to see the difference but if the doc is not familiar with CH that may be a fruitless effort. You should be able to find and bring a printout of what CH is with you on your next visit (not sure how much that would help either). You may want to look for a local headache specialist as you would most likely have better luck getting the correct diagnosis (if you have not been). I do however, believe that many of the medications that are used for CH are somewhat similar to those for migraine with a few exceptions so that may be why your doc keeps talking migraine?.. Not sure if this was all that helpful but hopefully some of the more experienced will chime in here soon.

Yes, do that!!! Perhaps it will open his ears to what you are saying. Good grief. O2: Tell us how you were instructed to use it please. That makes all the difference in the world. What flow rate, mask type, time, etc. It ALL matters. Do you utilize caffeine for your hits? Energy drinks or coffee? He may be a pain specialist, but that is NOT a Neuro and he likely has no idea regarding Clusters. They are not his forte. Have you read about the D3 Regimen? Cheap, easy, no doc, and good for you.

Hello Snowflake, as far as i can remember, in case of allergy/pollen etc. batch suggests to also take tumeric and resveratrol in combination with the benadryl. i think he calls it the full monty.... good luck