I began having cluster headaches when I was 13 or 14 years old and still have them usually twice a year for a 2-6 week period. I was diagnosed with clusters when I was 18 and have been trying to find the best remedies and medicine since. I have tried a little of it all..I have had
Maxalt,
Imitrex,
Topamax,
Zomig,
oxygen, "the water treatment", etc.. Currently I am using
Zomig 5 mg nasel spray and
oxygen with a mask to abort the headache and
hydrocodone for pain. I will say the
oxygen does work 50% of the time and the
Zomig works 90% of the time. I have the text book clusters, unilateral pain, tearing in the eye, deep internal pain that can go from 2 to 10 on a pain scale in 10 minutes and can be gone just that fast only to return an hour later. I have experienced headaches that were 10's that lasted more that 6 hours and have taken myself to the hospital (NO FUN). The
Zomig seems to keep me headache free for 12 hrs. and the
oxygen I only use when I'm having a headache that I rate at an 8 or above. The
Zomig is very pricey but as we all can attest to its well worth the money. My insurance will only pay for 6 spray applications a month so I stock up all year so I dont get in a jam when its time to battle. I also signed up for a coupon online that give me an additional $35 off each prescription. So after I hit my deductible each year, my copay is only $15 after my $35 coupon. I usually take 1/2
hydrocodone at onset also. I break them in half to make sure I don't build any tolerance to them and take 2 whole ones when I'm in for a bad one that has me laying in a steeming shower or
crying in a corner. Any help or advice on meds I can give I would be more than willing. Good luck to all.
