Stopping verapamil

[kat_92]

Hey all

i am not currently in cycle, and I’m debating if I should come off the verapamil. I understand it’s used most effectively only during cycles. Is that right? I have been on it every day for about 2 years now. Unfortunately since I cannot pin point my cycle dates yet it is hard for me to determine when I should start taking it again. Does anyone have any experience with this? Have you found it to be less effective when controlling a ch cycle after being off of it for a while? Let me know! 

[BoscoPiko]

Hey Kat,

I've also been on it daily for a few years and have debated stopping. I am reluctant because I've read on here that a few people that stopped found that it didn't help any longer after restarting. 

[spiny]

I went off at the insistence of my dentist, after being on it for a year. It never worked again for me. Boy, I was ticked too! 

[kat_92]

Oh no!!’ Omg okay I won’t stop it then. That’s terrifying 

[BoscoPiko]

Never meant to scare you but what good are we if we don't share what we know or experience.. BOL Kat!

[spiny]

It really is terrifying when your cycle shows up Kat. 

Unless you are having a problem with the Verap, your best chance of success with it is to stay on it till it lets you down. 

[Racer1_NC]

If you do decide to come off Verapamil, TAPER down. Don't go cold turkey. 

[kat_92]

I decided to stay on the verapamil! Thanks all for the responses

[dmlonghorn]

For what it's worth... I came off of it a few years ago after fully committing to M as my treatment method.

I did a long taper.

Feels good to not be on it, I wouldn't put the idea to bed entirely. 

Be well 

[Stevediego41]

I have had cluster headaches for 40 years.  I use Verapamil only when I am in a cycle and it is a huge help to reduce the frequency and intensity of headaches, and makes them easy to stop with oxygen, in 1-2 minutes.  Once the cycle stops, I taper off the verapamil and then typically have 18 months between cycles.  The downside is that I only started using verapamil 5 years ago, and since then my cycles have quickly gotten longer, now up to 5 months.  So I am suspicious that it makes cycles longer, but my cycles have been slowly getting longer anyway as I age, so cannot say for sure.

[Bejeeber]

17 hours ago, Stevediego41 said:

my cycles have been slowly getting longer anyway as I age

Yep this is the sort of thing that for some of us can make it hard to definitively pin a smoking gun of blame on a drug for cycle extension. But can't fault you for casting a suspicious eyeball towards the verapamil.

Often enough some nice extended remissions can go along with the lousy extended cycles as the years hurl by - here's hoping you too will at least get the benefit of some remission extensions!