Cluster headaches symptoms and conditions

I suffer form migraine headaches as well. The Doctor diagnosed me with a condition called "Cluster Headaches". Meaning they come in clusters. They come for a while a leave for a while. No cure, just try relieve the headache. In the past I took extra strength Goody's (w/Caffeine) or Excedrin Migraine, both with Coca~Cola. Both worked, the Goody's a little better but it is not available in California for some reason. It generally took about 45 or longer to start working, sometimes I was doubling up hoping it would be faster. After waking in the middle of the night for over a week with a throbbing head pain directly behind my eye socket I went to the doctor and was prescribed EPIDRIN 325-65-100 MG. The Doctor said to take it the moment I felt the headache starting. That night when it started I RAN to the bottle and took 2 with water. Within 15 minutes I actually felt the pain stopping. At first the throbbing would "skip a beat", then it would just stop as I laid still. Next thing I knew I was sleep. I have not experienced any side effects and I am on day 3. So I will say Epidrin works, don't be afraid to take it when the pain starts, there is no need to take them beforehand, "In the event" you think you will get the headache.

L. G.
Ontario, CA

I suffer from cluster headaches as well as several other ailments (Doctors say..."we know it's something we just can't figure it out"...sigh). With my latest bout of cluster headaches they decided to put me on prednisone..60 mg for 4 days...30 for 3 days..etc. until I tapered down. Worked great! Headaches went away and I was feeling wonderful (terribly agitated but physically wonderful) until I went off of it (headaches returned with a vengeance. They immediately started me on a second round of Prednisone at 60 per day. Third day, on this second round, I went to get out of bed and BAM!!! fell straight to the floor. I had absolutely no muscle control below my waist...NONE! Laid there on the floor for about a half hour (trying to get up as I flailed around). Managed to finally raise to a somewhat standing position. Walked (shuffled) down the hallway to the bathroom to try and use the toilet. Went to sit down on it and promptly fell wedging myself between the toilet and the wall...(a disturbing visual). A relative helped me (how humiliating) out from my predicament and we immediately called the doctor. I was told it was not the prednisone but a flaring of my underlying vascular/soft tissue disorder and to stop prednisone. Stopped prednisone, next morning went to get up and low and behold I could stand but I had excruciating pain shooting into my hips, knees and ankles which once again made me fall (from agonizing pain). Day three off of prednisone and the excruciating pain upon rising is better but far from over. Currently, extreme muscle fatigue...so weak my poor little muscles won't even quiver. Headaches are back. Red swollen face...ack!!!...what a nightmare.

I have been taking Topamax for 3 months for cluster headaches (which is pain equivalent to childbirth). Topamax has made me a maniac. At first, it has been helping, but now that my doc has me on 200 mg a day, I feel like the first thing that I think of when I wake up is death. I worry about everything! I forgot my son's birth date when filling out a dental form. I can't remember the family cat's name. I don't know the second line of our bedtime prayers, etc. I feel like crying because THIS IS NOT ME! I am normally very sharp and witty and I just can't seem to get my normal thoughts out. Today I only took 3 pills instead of 4. I am starting the weaning process myself. I have stuck with it as long as I could. It's time to find something else....a good massage perhaps.

I have been on Topamax for 3 or 4 months now for migraine headaches. I love it. I use to get cluster headaches everyday for a while now not at all. I get the tingling in the hands and sometimes in the feet. But only in the morning and not all the time. The weight loss waiting for it. I'm on 100mg at night. I think when you take it at night it is better. I don't have any confusion at all. So I think it works for some people and not others.

Switched to Metoprolol Succinate ER from Toprol XL at 50 mg dose once daily. For control of heart rate in A-FIB in combination with quinidine gluconate. For several years, side effect of Toprol XL was the suppression of my cluster headaches. After switching to the generic ER, the headaches are back. Very clear association with the change in medication.

I have been Lamictal for about two years now, for the help in controlling cluster headaches. I recently started breaking out in a rash, could this be because of the Lamictal? The rash or hives are in one area, which is on my neck and shoulder on the left side. I hate to call my doctor if it nothing. I haven't changed anything that I have been eating or using. Any help would be appreciated.

AThomas

I get horrible migraines from all birth control. I was told this one would not have as much side effects, but i am starting to see migraines come back around the time I get my period. Is their any birth control that won't do this?

My son and I have both taken Welbutrin. I didn't really notice a lot of side effects. I know that it did not effect my sex drive which other meds did. I lost weight, lost interest in drinking alcohol, lost interest in smoking. Had more energy,
My son has had some different things happen to him. He gets real sharpe headache pains in the left top of his head. They come and go away within about 30 seconds. Has anyone ever had that problem? He tried getting off of the meds and experenced all these body pains. It drove him nuts so he went back on welbutrin. The body pains have gone away, but the head pains came back. The doctor said the head pains would go away if he took his meds regular.

I used Nuva Ring about a year ago and decided to stop using it due to major mood swings, (Going from laughing to crying in a split second) but I recently decided to try it again, as I liked the conveinence of it and the fact that it's the only birth control I've used that hasn't made me gain weight. Well, I've had the ring in for about 2 weeks now and I'm not liking it!!! I've been feeling extremely fatigued, nauseas, constipated, experiencing heartburn, having brown spotting and abdominal cramping. I don't know if I should keep this thing in or take it out. Right now, I'm feeling sooo nauseas I'm contemplating going to the hospital.

When I started taking Topamax a couple of years ago, I noticed that I had changes in my night vision. It was so strange. It was like I would see aura-like images. Flashes of light, etc. and kind of blurry. As soon as I cut WAY down on the doasge, it went away. It worked very well for a couple years, then I began getting cluster headaches. They just told me to increase my dosage and I'm a little nervous. I lost 25 lbs when I first started.

ive been taking verapamil 80mg for a few months for my cluster headaches and they have helped alot. the only thing is im so so tired all day. i take 3 in the morning and 3 after dinner. i take magnesium 500 so i dont get constipated and he also has me taking melatonin at night. i just saw the doc and he said when i go three weeks without a cluster to go to 4 verapamils a day and then weed myself off of them for good. cant wait for that day!

I have had Cluster Headaches for the past 15 years. I have tried every headache medication out there. Zomig has been a life saver. Side effects? None to speak of! I take it everyday!