Posted by Dave W (24.24.116.44) on April 24, 2000 at 22:06:45:
Hi Group, me again.
Been having a tough cycle this year. Lots of 9's and 10's, 2 or 3 per day (some days 4).
Started with Lithium 1200 mg/day and it seemed to be effective for about 3 weeks, only allowing about 3 attacks per week to break through and they were mild. Then it suddenly became totally worthless, back to 3-a-day bad ones.
Stopped the Lithium, started Verapamil 480 mg/day. After 3 more weeks of torturous attacks, it seemed like it would not be the ticket this year either.
Rather than even THINK about taking Prednisone, I experimented by re-starting the Lithium (1200 mg/day) while still taking the Verapamil (480 mg/day).
Result so far: 5 pain free days in a row and holding.
Has anyone else done a combo medication like this? It seems that their effect is adding together -- I'm not even getting shadows or precursors. I know it's not time for my cycle to end, that happens in August like clockwork.
It's great -- especially since my pharmacist, doctor, wife, mother, and banker have all been grilling me about the quantity of Imitrex nasal sprays and bottles of oxygen I've been using....
Please post if you've had a similar exerience so I can feel better about sharing this cocktail with my doctor! I haven't talked with him yet because he basically just gives me a bunch of prescriptions each year and lets me experiment (Lithium, Verapamil, Sansert, Prednisone, Imitrex, Oxygen). I've never mixed the drugs though (other than Prednisone with Verapamil but never again I hope).
Pain Free Days, All!!!
Goober Dave