[EnglishDave]

A few of you know me now, and I value everyone's advice, here is my predicament.
I suffer from chronic Cluster Headaches, a white-hot railroad spike driven into my brain above my ear, behind my left eye, with assocciated symptoms. Years ago I had up to 8 attacks a day ranging from 30 minutes to 3 hours long. Then I started taking Topiramate and the attacks were cut to 5-6 a week (not every day). The Ketamine I take helps dull the intensity.
Now, since Boxing Day, I have had attacks - 1, 2, 3, a day, every day. My dilemma is this:
Do I ramp up the amount of Topiramate I take, increasing the side-effects - specifically tiredness when I get that from Ketamine, Tramadol, Mirtazapine and Depression already, OR:
Do I go through the agony of weaning off the Topiramate to try another on the shortlist of meds with scary side-effects my Neuro supplied my GP - ending with Lithium which I'm petrified of (horror stories about mood/personality changes)?
I am really in a frying pan/fire dilemma here, your opinions matter to me.
What would you do?

Dave.

[Dove96]

First: I am in no way affiliated with the company. I am also a skeptic.
Now that is out of the way.
I started using an Alpha Stim CES unit at my psychologist for sleep disturbance and depression. The side effect was my migraines stopped. I still have neurology pain which I continue to medicate but the migraines stopped.
I purchased an Alpha Stim for home use and my extended medical plan reimbursed part of the unit.
Read up on it I hope it helps.

[EnglishDave]

Hi Dove96,
Thank you so much for your suggestion of the Alpha Stim, I went and read their UK site, and I desperately need something more for sleep disturbance and - especially - deep, dark Depression, let alone the Cluster Headache attack escalation.
Unfortunately there are 2 things that stop me trying it: Cluster Headaches are entirely different animals to migraines, although the effect of severe pain and miserable days are the same. I suffer Neuofacial Parastheasia and TN as well, the Stim would be guaranteed to bring on the most horrendous attack.
Thank you for caring, I am very happy it is so effective on your problems.

Dave.

[mrsD]

In the US they are using Melatonin for cluster headaches.

Here is a UK link even:
http://www.patient.co.uk/doctor/cluster-headaches-pro

Another interesting therapeutic link:
http://www.nytimes.com/health/guides...dications.html