Matthew Funk Posted September 20 Share Posted September 20 Context: I've had a minor case of Clusters for about 10 years (1 attack every 1 to 2 days) usually in cycles of 3 months on, 9 months off. Currently I'm on a 5 month cycle and my attacks have increased to 1 to 2 every day. I use sumatriptan injections to abort (self dosing at 2ml per) with great success. Today I visited my doctor to try and get some further help and he asked if I have tried any preventative treatments. I have not. Without hesitation he prescribed me antidepressants. Is that a thing? In all my research I don't remember anyone every talking about antidepressants as preventative. By the way, I have no history of depression or depression drugs. Thanks for your input! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thomasm Posted September 24 Share Posted September 24 Was prescribed Paxil many years ago. Didn’t do much. In theory they should have a positive effect as they typically target the serotonin receptors, like a lot of our treatments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Funk Posted September 24 Author Share Posted September 24 Finally some input, thanks for the response! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoscoPiko Posted September 25 Share Posted September 25 On 9/20/2024 at 1:21 PM, Matthew Funk said: Without hesitation he prescribed me antidepressants. Is that a thing? Well....many antidepressants have been sister medications for migraine and Ch. You did not specify the medication/antidepressants scripted but most are not effective for CH. Your doc should have first and foremost scripted oxygen as an abortive then maybe verapamil.. which currently is the so called gold standard of treatments not that it means much in the way of CH. The D3 regimen should be looked into as it has helped many more than verapamil.. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun brearley Posted September 25 Share Posted September 25 If your gonna take antidepressants as a preventative for CH, all I can see coming from that is you will end up addicted to antidepressants ans still have CH, oxygen first and foremost to abort varapamil as a preventative and triptan injections as last resort to abort 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHTraveler Posted September 25 Share Posted September 25 Some SSRIs like Lexapro block the effect of MM, so that's something to consider. Like others here, I did not have luck with antidepressants and CH. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Funk Posted October 9 Author Share Posted October 9 Thanks for those who responded. I appreciate it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoscoPiko Posted October 9 Share Posted October 9 Hey Matthew @Matthew Funk, people on here might be able to help a bit more if we knew your script. If you have some stigma with regard to revealing it that's ok 2. There are many migraine meds that get scripted to us cluster heads (typical) but not so helpful unfortunately. I am also going through a rough patch with my CH and utilize a few different methods of preventatives. Have you done any research on the D3 protocol? Or the "Full Monty" D3 reg ? Both have pretty good results. Did you ever speak to your Dr. about O2 as an abort? It's important that you do as it could really help. Lastly, please read the new users banner as that may help you immensely as well. Feel free to ask and ask again if need be. I hope you get through this relatively unscathed. Your not alone here. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun brearley Posted October 9 Share Posted October 9 @BoscoPikoyou in cycle to?, I'm having a bit of a nightmare, but DMT helping a lot to abort, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoscoPiko Posted October 9 Share Posted October 9 7 hours ago, Shaun brearley said: @BoscoPikoyou in cycle to?, I'm having a bit of a nightmare, but DMT helping a lot to abort, I think I'm in the ramp up stage (mad shadows for the last week and a half) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun brearley Posted October 9 Share Posted October 9 Oh dear that's not good @BoscoPiko, hope you don't go into full cycle, I'm guessing you have everything needed to bust before the bunny clambers out from under his rock, I was stupid and let my arsenal go dry as wasn't expecting to get hit yet, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoscoPiko Posted October 9 Share Posted October 9 22 minutes ago, Shaun brearley said: Oh dear that's not good @BoscoPiko, hope you don't go into full cycle, I'm guessing you have everything needed to bust before the bunny clambers out from under his rock, I was stupid and let my arsenal go dry as wasn't expecting to get hit yet, Already started trying.. I have all crossables crossed that you get out of cycle and I don't go in!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun brearley Posted October 9 Share Posted October 9 I'm in deep know so getting smashed every day and night, can't work at moment doing my head in, fingers crossed you keep him at bay 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoscoPiko Posted October 9 Share Posted October 9 2 hours ago, Shaun brearley said: I'm in deep know so getting smashed every day and night, can't work at moment doing my head in, fingers crossed you keep him at bay Sorry Sean! Hang in there!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bejeeber Posted October 10 Share Posted October 10 It's bad enough that Dallas Denny is going into a full cycle, now I'm hating the [BLEEP] out of this thread, with the news that the cluster bunny has gone completely ape on everyone right at the same time. WTF is happening?! @BoscoPiko I have to imagine you're getting real serious with the RC for the counterattack? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoscoPiko Posted October 10 Share Posted October 10 Lol jeebs I'm super serious! Grind, soak gag and choak over here.. it is odd that so many of us are same timing it.. I have upped everything so much that my tummy hates me! Uff.. the porcelain God has manifested its self and seems to think i should pray from both ends This 2 shall pass. In the famous words of @Dallas Denny...ONWARD!! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bejeeber Posted October 10 Share Posted October 10 "Pray from both ends". That is another REALLY good one , for a really awful situation. You must be reaching some genuinely therapeutic levels to have had such a reaction, right? I mean c'mon, there's gotta be an upside there somewhere. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun brearley Posted October 10 Share Posted October 10 Think I may have an angle on here that is gonna help me out , thanks mox Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dallas Denny Posted October 10 Share Posted October 10 Well damn! That just sux and bloze as the jeebster would say!! Sorry to see that the Beast is having his way with so many of us!! On a positive note though, I'm thinkin maybe the bastard Beast overheard a conversation I had in the past couple of days regarding DiMiTri and got skeered!!! After having heavy shadows all day I went to sleep at 9 last nite and woke up at 8 this morning......zero, zilch, nada in the hits department!! This after 2 back to back 6 hit nites!!! Feelin quite refreshed this mornin so my mantra at bedtime going forward shall be, " better behave Beast or I'll get DiMiTri after ya!!!" 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darren Posted October 14 Share Posted October 14 Early in my clusterhead journey, I was prescribed Amitriptyline as a preventative. Didn't notice any positive effect from it though. Tried it on few cycles, and then moved on from it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
victorp Posted October 17 Share Posted October 17 Earlier this year (late April - August), I had an unusually long cycle (for me), and I was prescribed Cymbalta 60 mg. As I still occasionally experience shadows after strong emotions or when I push myself too hard in the gym, I was advised to keep taking the medication for the next 6 months. I don’t see any clear benefits from it, honestly. However, since I’ll be living in different countries over the next year, I didn’t object to having a bit of support, even though I don’t feel there's a real need for me to be on an antidepressant. My main concern is the potential withdrawal side effects, which I’d rather avoid while moving between countries. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matthew Funk Posted October 17 Author Share Posted October 17 Thank you very much to all who have taken the time to help me! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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