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What Causes Recurrent Headaches Despite Taking Imitrex And Oxygen Therapy?
Hi, I am 73 years old and have suffered with cluster headaches for the past 15-20 years. They seem to be getting worse as I age, in frequency, in intensity and in duration. I currently have had only about 25 consecutive, headache free days since 3/22/2017. My regular neurologist, for the last 2-3 years, has treated me with oral medications and Botox treatments (twice) with no success. He referred me to another neurologist who administered SPG nerve blocks twice. I am still suffering. I use Zomig ODT and Imitrex injections to get relief and, more recently Oxygen therapy. For the past 10-15 days I have been getting the attacks about every 2 -4 hours. I am wondering if I may be in a rebound situation due to all of the medication I have recently been taking. If so, would relying soley on the Oxygen therapy possibly get me out of the rebound condition? Would you have any other suggestions regarding my overall condition? Thank You. Tim
Tue, 26 Jun 2018
Hello and Welcome to ‘Ask A Doctor’ service.
I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.
Cluster headaches can occur in clusters lasting from 7 days up to a year, so it is not uncommon for them to last for 10-15 days, I do not see it likely to be a rebound from Triptans like Zomig or Imitrex.
However Triptans do not constitute preventive medication, they do not help in breaking the cycle, only for the immediate attack. You do not mention any preventive therapy. You should discuss with your doctors the possibility of starting preventive therapy like Verapamil or Lithium, may be combined with Corticosteroids in the first days to achieve initial effect.
I hope you get better soon.
I have reviewed your query and here is my advice.
Cluster headaches can occur in clusters lasting from 7 days up to a year, so it is not uncommon for them to last for 10-15 days, I do not see it likely to be a rebound from Triptans like Zomig or Imitrex.
However Triptans do not constitute preventive medication, they do not help in breaking the cycle, only for the immediate attack. You do not mention any preventive therapy. You should discuss with your doctors the possibility of starting preventive therapy like Verapamil or Lithium, may be combined with Corticosteroids in the first days to achieve initial effect.
I hope you get better soon.
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