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Suggest Ways To Wean Off Sibelium
Question: Hi Doctor, I have a older infarcts in left cranium I had head ache during the evening I treated with sibelium 10 mg for one year during treatment headache is controled, if the treatment stopped the headache reappear kindly suggest
Brief Answer:
Effect of stopping Sibelium would be unpredictable...
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on Healthcaremagic.
Sibelium (flunarizine) is a calcium channel blocker, prescribed for migraine occlusive peripheral vascular disease, vertigo of central and peripheral origin and as an adjuvant in the therapy of epilepsy. It is also used to prevent migraine headaches secondary to the infarction you have had.
I would not suggest stopping it suddenly without discussing with your doctor. The recurrence of the headache on stopping the medicine is not predictable.
The dose of the medicine may be reduced before stopping the medicine if your doctor suggests. In case the pain recurs, taking Naproxen 500 mg one or two tablets together as per requirement may be able to give you relief. In case the frequency of headache is significant, the medicine can be started back again.
May I ask as to why you feel the need to stop the Sibelium at this time? Is it causing you other issues?
Effect of stopping Sibelium would be unpredictable...
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on Healthcaremagic.
Sibelium (flunarizine) is a calcium channel blocker, prescribed for migraine occlusive peripheral vascular disease, vertigo of central and peripheral origin and as an adjuvant in the therapy of epilepsy. It is also used to prevent migraine headaches secondary to the infarction you have had.
I would not suggest stopping it suddenly without discussing with your doctor. The recurrence of the headache on stopping the medicine is not predictable.
The dose of the medicine may be reduced before stopping the medicine if your doctor suggests. In case the pain recurs, taking Naproxen 500 mg one or two tablets together as per requirement may be able to give you relief. In case the frequency of headache is significant, the medicine can be started back again.
May I ask as to why you feel the need to stop the Sibelium at this time? Is it causing you other issues?
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Because the sibelium causes drowsiness. Further what about infarcts, is the headache because of infarcts
Brief Answer:
Dose can be tapered off and shifted to another alternative
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back. The first thing I would suggest is to lower the dose of Sibelium before removing it altogether. That could relieve your drowsiness which could be a possible side effect of this drug.
There are other medicines like metoprolol which prevent migraine from developing but without causing drowsiness. You may discuss with your doctor whether it is reasonable to change your medication.
The infarcts are unlikely to cause headache. But the chances of infarcts recurring again are much higher than general population since you already had one. So, you need to rather stay careful.
Dose can be tapered off and shifted to another alternative
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for writing back. The first thing I would suggest is to lower the dose of Sibelium before removing it altogether. That could relieve your drowsiness which could be a possible side effect of this drug.
There are other medicines like metoprolol which prevent migraine from developing but without causing drowsiness. You may discuss with your doctor whether it is reasonable to change your medication.
The infarcts are unlikely to cause headache. But the chances of infarcts recurring again are much higher than general population since you already had one. So, you need to rather stay careful.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Ashwin Bhandari
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