CoSonauts, what do any of you who suffer from cluster headaches do to alleviate the symptoms? I started taking magnesium a few days ago and I've just had one of the worst ones of my life. Caffeine usually nips it in the bud and I don't know what happened this time.
I've not found anything that works. Thankfully, I don't get them often. "Just" migraines.
I'm on Ajovy for migraines now, and that's been amazing so far. I'll need about a year on it before I know if it's preventing the cluster headaches.
@Agatha glad to hear that for you. What's the difference in your symptoms between the two?
When I get a cluster there's no aura. No warning. Just BAM - 100% intensity practically immediately. First time it happened I thought I was having an aneurysm or stroke (my eyelid will droop). I was asleep when it hit the first time. It tends to stop nearly as quickly, too. And they don't last as long as my migraines (thankfully).
I'm exhausted afterwards. Not normal tired. Like I've been in a car wreck.
@Agatha that's remarkable! I wish it was around when my mom was still alive. She suffered from bad migraines for the entire second half of her life.
Oh that's terrible! Yes, I feel extremely fortunate. I hope it continues to work (I have a history of meds just not working suddenly).
@hallmarc
It is not an antiseizure med. It's a monoclonal antibody antagonist. I self administer a prefilled injection pen once a month. So far, only side effect has been 24 hours of little appetite after the first dose (no nausea, normal appetite since).
I use their copay card program, so I'm paying $5/per rx fill. If doc prescribes me three, to cover 3 months, it's $5 total.
She did prescribe me rizatriptan to take in case of breakthrough migraine, but so far I've not needed to rely on it.