Posted by James in Texas (12.5.167.22) on December 30, 1999 at 08:49:50:
For years my clusters have come in the fall near Thanksgiving but this year I've had a great suprise.
My "head" doctor has had me try Verapamil several times in the past but with no affect. In the past I've only tried it after the cluster started. This year I have been on Verapamil all year long mostly due to a mistake by my G.P. I also have a heart filbrilation problem and the G.P. prescribed Varapamil at 80mg per day. That is too large a dose for the heart problem but I took it anyway. So along come Thanksgiving and sure enough, the pressure starts in the temple, back of the neck and I have that feeling that I'm about to have an attack....but the pain never comes. Of course I'm amazed. This happens two days in a row a couple of times per day and I'm sure that I'll be on the floor any minute but no. At this point I start praying that this is not a cruel joke. I decided to test myself and drink a beer about 5 PM and the pressure comes but no attack. If the beer won't bring it on nothing will.
I am now on 180mg per day of Varapamil and the pressure is even less. The only conclusion I can come to is that by taking the Varapamil all year long has had this wonderful affect. Believe me I'm praying. Normally the worst part of my cluster doesn't come until February and that will be the real test. I'll keep you posted. Hopefully this will help someone. This is the first year in over 17 years that ANYTHING has stopped my clusters. Actually I think I'm in a cluster but the final attack never comes and that's good enough for me. I can function. Thank God the Father.