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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by rjlockhart on December 19, 2005, at 17:45:55
Well i know that there is many headache medications, i have taken Vicodin before for my wisdom teeth and when i broke my left ankle, i usally took 2 because of the pain.
Vicodin out of all the other opiates, is i think the least potent, compared to Demerol, Oxycountin (oxycodone), hydromorhone (the strongest).
I do have headaches, i take 600mg of Ibprophen (Advil) it somewhat helps but still, if it is one that stays all day, no.
There are many other headache medications, but i was wondering if Vicodin can be considered, at 5mg. But i dont want to become addicted, so i have a phobia, i have too many phobias.
Is there any others, well that are good, that are non narcotic.
Thanks.
Matt
Posted by tarabara on December 19, 2005, at 17:45:55
In reply to Vicodin 5mg for cluster headaches, posted by rjlockhart on December 18, 2005, at 15:01:09
hi matt,
i was put on a Rx anti inflammatory called toradol for acute instances of headache. the thing is, you can only use a certain amount at a time because it will blow out your kidneys, but it was very effective. if i have nausea with the headache, i will add compazine to the toradol and to tell you the truth, all that compazine does is make me so tired i'm not nauseous any more.
something else i tried that i thought worked great was fiorcet hover doctors are hesitant to prescribe it because it can often contribute to pain cycling, especially w/ cluster headaches because they occur so close together.
i have found that using narcotics for frequent headaches makes matters worse. sometimes coming off of a headache as well as coming off of a day or two of vicodin makes me feel like my head was in a blender. it's yucky.
have you tried any of the vaso-constrictors? those helped for me too. i know they are indicated for migraines but doctors try them for other headaches as well. the best combo for me is the vaso constrictor maxalt, w/ toradol and then compazine if i need it.
good luck. let me know if you have any questions.
Posted by rjlockhart on December 19, 2005, at 17:45:55
In reply to Re: Vicodin 5mg for cluster headaches, posted by tarabara on December 18, 2005, at 15:25:02
I take Zyprexa (moodstablizer) 5mg in the day.
Irronically, i was on Adderall 60mg (amphetamine) and it would, well in the day when i would have a headache that just you wake with, it would make it go away. It is a stimulant, i think maybe, theroy, that it stimulated veins and somewhat took away the pain, corrected something. But when it wore off sometimes it would come back, but sometimes it wouldnt.
I have been on Lorazepam (Ativan) which is a sedative, but it didnt make headaches go away, sometimes it made them worse. I thought since it depresses the CNS that it would ease up veins, and dialate them. Adderall constricts veins. Weird..
I think i may ask about beta-blockers, but i read that Hydrocodone/Acetamponine is the #1 prescribed medication, well through prescription written in the year, on rxlist.com Or go to google and type in Top prescribed presciption medications.
Thank for the advice.
Matt
Posted by tarabara on December 19, 2005, at 17:45:56
In reply to Re: Vicodin 5mg for cluster headaches, posted by rjlockhart on December 18, 2005, at 17:11:43
actually, that does make sense. if adderall constricts the blood vessels and helps the headaches then you should try the drug or class of drugs i am on, maxalt, or the triptans. they are vaso-constrictors. since they are specifically designed to do that, you may get more relief from them than you do from the adderrall (don't know how to spell it.)
headaches are thought to be caused by over diallated blood vessels to your brain so it also makes sense that the ativan could make your headaches worse. look into the triptans and use the narcotics as a last option. i've been dealing w/ headaches for about 10 years and have worked with pain specialists and have learned a lot about pain cycling. because cluster headaches occur in, ahem, clusters, narcotics can often make them just occur back to back to back. it can be awful. do you see a neurologist?
Posted by rjlockhart on December 19, 2005, at 17:45:56
In reply to Re: Vicodin 5mg for cluster headaches, posted by tarabara on December 18, 2005, at 17:57:20
No, well i do have a nuerologist, but i go to a psychiatrist.
Its not really bad, if it was i would be more percistant at treatment.
I read all of the other headache medications. Imprex (misspelled).
Thanks for asking. You i think are right, narcotics are temporary, [vicodin]. I was just asking. A low dose as 5mg/500mg.
Posted by jamestheyonger on December 19, 2005, at 17:45:56
In reply to Vicodin 5mg for cluster headaches, posted by rjlockhart on December 18, 2005, at 15:01:09
"Well i know that there is many headache medications, i have taken Vicodin before for my wisdom teeth and when i broke my left ankle, i usally took 2 because of the pain."
Opioid based pain meds make migrane type headaches worse and can increase the frequency
that which they occur.
Posted by rjlockhart on December 19, 2005, at 17:45:56
In reply to Re: Vicodin 5mg for cluster headaches, posted by jamestheyonger on December 18, 2005, at 18:50:21
thank you for your input. I dont think vicodin is right for me.
I was just asking.
Posted by Phillipa on December 19, 2005, at 17:45:56
In reply to Re: Vicodin 5mg for cluster headaches, posted by rjlockhart on December 18, 2005, at 20:56:31
Ibuphrophen 4-6hrs. Fondly, Phippipa
Posted by Phillipa on December 19, 2005, at 18:54:13
In reply to Vicodin 5mg for cluster headaches, posted by rjlockhart on December 18, 2005, at 15:01:09
PS I have one now just took motrin. Fondly, Phillipa
This is the end of the thread.
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