Dihydroergotamine for Cluster Headaches User Reviews

• Ann...
• February 13, 2018

Dihydroergotamine "I was told about this medicine by an older friend who had horrible, debilitating migraines all her life and was light and sound sensitive. I would lock myself in a room and hope for it to pass. I was prescribed Migranal. The active ingredient is actually a fungus. It has been around since ancient Roman times. (Look it up... pretty interesting.) Yes, the markup is somewhere between 250%, the insurance pays $4,500 for 8 bottles. Yes, there is 'No' generic, and the company that makes it is from France. Yes, if you take it incorrectly, you will taste it in your mouth and swallow it. Please read the instructions all the way! Take it in the first 5 minutes of a migraine, it will be less effective if it's a full-blown migraine. It takes my migraine away about 75%. No high (unless mixed with other drugs), no drowsy or lingering effects. I will continue to take it unless my insurance says no more. Important: stick to the dose and don't go over, as the toxic effects are dangerous, but it's not toxic at the correct dose."

• Pwr...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 29, 2016

Dihydroergotamine "For me, with chronic cluster migraines, the dihydroergotamine injections eliminate the migraine within 30 minutes and are best. I also use a cold neck pack, keep it in the freezer, and oxygen, I have an oxygen generator set at 6 ml. I used to use Migranal, similar side effects. Migranal is not covered by Medicare/AARP United Healthcare ($500 retail each), but D.H.E. 45 is. The preferred plan appears to have the best benefits, but it is still expensive. Instead of a 1 ml dose, I cut back to 0.35 ml and get 3 shots from each ampoule, it still works great for me. I fill 3 needles and keep them available. D.H.E. is not available due to a manufacturer shortage (Valient) until January 2017, and they are the only supplier. Waiting 2 months will be difficult, so I have to ration."

• Bra...
• July 4, 2014

Dihydroergotamine "I have suffered with clusters for the last 20 years. Every time I've been prescribed something that works, the FDA finds a negative reason to stop production. Migranal seems to work really well, but the price is ridiculous! My pharmacist requests that I only get it at the end of the month due to his cost. Now my insurance cost on it is being raised. Go figure."

• NJA...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 7, 2022

"It was a good abortive for my cluster headaches (CH) when I used it at the beginning of the attack. I even used it to decrease my post-exercise headaches but used a quarter of a pill. I stopped using this drug because it caused numbness in my hands and fingers, meaning it was messing with my circulatory system…"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 19, 2012

Dihydroergotamine "I have suffered from cluster headaches for 7 years. My doctors have tried it all on me, then one day, I was administered this. A godsend after so many years of pain and emotional turmoil."

• Ken...
• February 11, 2016

Dihydroergotamine "Excellent. It worked to break the cycle without many side effects."

• Clu...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 10, 2014

Dihydroergotamine "Rough side effect profile (nausea, leg cramping, and the injections burn). Have used every day for a couple of weeks to shut down a bad cluster. Worked pretty well."

• Hen...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 25, 2019

"Dihydroergotamine is the only medication that works for my headache. It works very well."